Section 75 vs chargeback: what’s the difference?

The key difference: Section 75 is a legal protection for credit-card purchases over £100, while chargeback is a card-scheme rule that also works on debit cards and has no minimum amount.

Section 75

Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, if you pay on a credit card for something costing over £100 and up to £30,000, the card provider is jointly liable with the retailer if the goods are faulty, misdescribed, or the company fails. It even applies if you only paid the deposit on the card.

Chargeback

Chargeback isn’t a law — it’s a rule of the card schemes (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) — but it covers debit and credit cards with no minimum, and lets you ask your bank to reverse a payment. Time limits apply, usually around 120 days.

Which to use

Use Section 75 for credit-card purchases over £100 (it’s stronger); use chargeback for debit cards or smaller amounts. See Section 75 and chargeback.

Sources

Consumer Credit Act 1974, s.75 (legislation.gov.uk); MoneyHelper; UK Finance (chargeback). Reviewed: 3 September 2026.