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Electronics
Section 75 vs chargeback: how card protection works in the UK
Section 75 makes your credit card provider jointly liable for purchases over £100, while chargeback covers debit cards. Here's when to use each and how to claim.
By Daily Offer Deals editorial team7 min read
On this page 9 sections
Quick answer
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act makes your credit card provider jointly responsible with the seller if something goes wrong, as long as a single item cost more than £100 and no more than £30,000. It’s a legal right. Chargeback is a voluntary card-scheme process that works on debit cards, credit cards and charge cards for any amount, but it’s not guaranteed and usually has a time limit. Try the seller first, then use Section 75 if it applies, and chargeback if it doesn’t.
Both can get your money back when an order never turns up, arrives faulty or isn’t what was described. Knowing which one fits can make the difference between a quick refund and a frustrating back-and-forth. This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Citizens Advice and the Financial Ombudsman Service can help with your own case.
Section 75 vs chargeback at a glance
| Section 75 | Chargeback | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A legal right under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 | A voluntary process run by card schemes such as Visa and Mastercard |
| Which payments | Credit cards and regulated buy now, pay later (Deferred Payment Credit) | Debit cards, credit cards and charge cards |
| Amount | A single item costing more than £100 and no more than £30,000 | Any amount |
| How much you can get back | The full cost, even if you only paid part on the card, plus some extra losses | Usually only what you paid on that card |
| Time limit | Linked to the general limitation period for claims | Usually set by the card scheme. Many providers mention 120 days, but check with yours |
| If the provider says no | You can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service | You can complain to the Ombudsman if the provider wouldn’t raise or appeal it properly |
How Section 75 works
Section 75 makes the credit provider “jointly and severally liable” with the trader for a breach of contract or misrepresentation. In plain terms, if the seller lets you down, you can claim from your card company as well.
The £100 to £30,000 rule is per item
Citizens Advice is clear that the limits apply to a single item, not your whole basket. Its example: someone orders a phone for £80, headphones for £20 and pays £5 delivery. The total is £105, but no single item cost over £100, so Section 75 doesn’t apply. Chargeback is the route instead.
You only need to pay part on the card
This is the clever bit. If an item costs over £100, you only need to have put some of the price on your credit card. Citizens Advice gives the example of a £250 oven where £50 deposit went on a credit card and £200 was paid in cash. The buyer can claim the full £250 under Section 75, not just the £50.
What you can claim for
You can ask for:
- the full amount you paid, or the cost of repairing a faulty item
- money to make up for poor quality or for being misled
- the cost of repairing damage caused by a faulty item or service
For example, Citizens Advice notes that if a faulty washing machine damages your floor, you could claim for the floor repair as well as the machine.
When Section 75 might not apply
There usually needs to be a direct link between you, the card provider and the seller. Citizens Advice says you can’t usually use Section 75 if you paid through a third party, such as:
- a marketplace, where one company’s website takes payment for other sellers
- a voucher site, where you buy a voucher to use elsewhere
- a wallet such as PayPal, where you top up an account and pay from it
- a travel agent, in some cases
You can still ask, but expect a possible “no”. If so, chargeback may still be available.
How chargeback works
Chargeback isn’t a law. It’s a set of rules that card schemes use to settle disputes between banks. Your card provider asks the seller’s bank to reverse the transaction.
Chargeback can help when:
- goods or services didn’t arrive
- an item was faulty or not as described
- you were charged the wrong amount or twice
- the company went bust before delivering
Points to know:
- There’s no minimum spend, so it’s the usual route for smaller purchases or anything bought by debit card.
- It only covers what you paid on that card. In the £250 washing machine example, if £50 was paid by debit card, chargeback could get back the £50, not the rest.
- The seller can challenge it. Citizens Advice suggests keeping any refunded money aside for a few weeks in case the trader successfully disputes it.
- Time limits apply. Many card providers say claims should usually be raised within 120 days of the transaction or the expected delivery date. Rules vary, so act as soon as you can.
What about PayPal, Apple Pay and buy now, pay later?
- PayPal: if you paid from your PayPal balance, open a dispute with PayPal. Citizens Advice says you have 180 days from payment to do so. If you linked a card, you might be able to try chargeback with your card provider, though it may not agree.
- Apple Pay and Google Pay: these pass the payment through your underlying card. Protection generally follows that card, but check your provider’s terms.
- Buy now, pay later: since 15 July 2026, the FCA regulates Deferred Payment Credit from third-party lenders. The FCA says you may be able to get a refund from the lender under Section 75 if something goes wrong. Agreements taken out before that date, and in-house schemes run by the retailer itself, are not covered. See our BNPL guide for more.
How to make a claim, step by step
- Contact the seller first. Follow its complaints procedure and keep copies of everything.
- Decide which route fits. Credit card and an item over £100? Section 75. Otherwise, chargeback.
- Write to your card provider. Say clearly “I’m making a Section 75 claim” or “I’d like to raise a chargeback”. Some providers call chargeback a “disputed transaction”.
- Send evidence: order confirmation, listing screenshots, photos, delivery records and your messages with the seller.
- Escalate if needed. If a Section 75 claim is rejected, or a chargeback isn’t raised or appealed properly, you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service. It’s free and independent.
Using this to shop smarter
- Put big purchases on a credit card, then pay the balance in full so you don’t pay interest. Section 75 protection doesn’t depend on carrying a balance.
- For anything over £100, consider paying at least part on a credit card, even a deposit.
- Avoid paying unknown sellers by bank transfer, which has none of these protections.
A receipt organiser or a simple expanding file helps keep the paperwork that card providers ask for in one place.
When you’re browsing the Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers, it’s worth deciding in advance which card you’ll use for which purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Does Section 75 work on debit cards?
No. Section 75 applies to credit cards and certain regulated credit agreements, including Deferred Payment Credit since 15 July 2026. Debit card purchases rely on chargeback instead.
Does delivery count towards the £100?
Citizens Advice’s guidance focuses on the price of each single item. In its example, a delivery charge didn’t push a basket of cheaper items into Section 75. If you’re unsure, ask your provider or Citizens Advice.
Can I use Section 75 if a company has gone bust?
Often yes, because the card provider is jointly liable with the seller. That’s one of the main reasons people use credit cards for deposits on furniture, holidays and other big orders.
Do I need to have paid the full amount by credit card?
No. For Section 75, paying part of the cost on a credit card can be enough to claim the full value, provided the single item cost more than £100 and no more than £30,000.
What if my card provider refuses?
Ask for a final response in writing, then you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service. For chargeback, ask whether your provider used the appeals process. If it refused to raise or appeal a claim, the Ombudsman can look at that too.
About the author
Daily Offer Deals editorial team
The Daily Offer Deals team checks UK deals by hand and writes practical buying guides. We never claim hands-on testing we have not done.
