If you pay by card and something goes wrong — the goods are faulty, never
arrive, or the company goes bust — you may be able to claim your money back
through your card provider, not just the retailer. Two routes do this: Section
75 and chargeback.
Section 75 — for credit-card purchases
Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, if you pay
for something on a credit card and the item’s cash price is
over £100 and no more than £30,000, the card provider is
jointly liable with the retailer for a breach of contract or
misrepresentation. So if the goods are faulty or the company fails, you can
claim against your card provider. It even applies if you only paid the deposit
on the card, as long as the total price falls in that range.
Chargeback — for debit cards and smaller amounts
Chargeback is different. It’s not a law but a rule of the
card schemes (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), and it works on
debit and credit cards with
no minimum amount. You ask your bank to reverse a payment —
for example when goods don’t arrive or a firm ceases trading. Time limits
apply, usually within about 120 days of the problem, so don’t
delay.
Which should you use?
If you paid more than £100 on a credit card, Section 75 is usually stronger
because it’s a legal right. For debit-card payments, or credit-card purchases
under £100, chargeback is the route. There’s no harm in raising the issue with
your bank and asking which applies.
What to do next
Gather your evidence and contact your card provider, quoting Section 75 or
chargeback. If you need to go further, see our
small claims court guide and
claim templates.
Sources
Consumer Credit Act 1974, s.75 (legislation.gov.uk); MoneyHelper / Citizens
Advice (Section 75 and chargeback); UK Finance (chargeback scheme rules).
Reviewed: 3 September 2026.