Credit & Debt

Section 75 Credit Card Protection UK: Get Your Money Back on Failed Purchases

SYM

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is one of the most powerful consumer protections available in the UK. If you pay for goods or services between £100 and £30,000 on a credit card and the purchase goes wrong — the company goes bust, you don't receive the goods, or there's a misrepresentation — your credit card provider is jointly liable with the retailer. This means you can get your money back from your card company even if the seller has disappeared.

What Section 75 Covers

Section 75 applies when: (1) you paid on a credit card, (2) the purchase price is between £100 and £30,000, (3) there's a breach of contract or misrepresentation by the seller. It does NOT require the entire purchase to be on the card — even paying just £1 of a £5,000 holiday on a credit card extends Section 75 protection to the full amount. It does not apply to debit cards or charge cards (different rules apply).

Section 75 vs Chargeback

Chargeback is a different (weaker) protection available on both credit and debit cards through Visa/Mastercard/Amex schemes. Chargeback has no £100 minimum, works on transactions of any size, but has time limits (typically 120 days from transaction or 120 days from expected delivery/service) and is not a legal right — it's a scheme policy. Section 75 is a statutory right with no time limit (subject only to the 6-year limitation period for court claims), and makes the card company jointly liable. Use Section 75 first for qualifying purchases; chargeback for smaller amounts or debit card transactions.
  • •Section 75: credit card only, £100–£30,000, statutory right, no time limit
  • •Chargeback: any card, any amount, scheme policy, 120-day limit
  • •Section 75 is stronger — credit company jointly liable, not just mediating
  • •Try to resolve with retailer first, then escalate to card company

How to Make a Section 75 Claim

Contact your credit card company in writing (email or letter creates a record). State: the amount, the retailer, the nature of the breach (goods not received, company insolvent, misrepresentation), and that you're claiming under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Attach any evidence: receipts, email correspondence, screenshots, proof the company is insolvent. Card companies must investigate and respond. If they reject the claim unfairly, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Does Section 75 apply to overseas purchases?+

Generally yes — if you paid on a UK credit card for goods/services from an overseas retailer, Section 75 protection typically still applies, though there has been some legal debate about the exact scope. Claim anyway and let the card company investigate.

What if I paid through PayPal with a credit card?+

This is contested. Using PayPal may break the 'direct relationship' between creditor and supplier required for Section 75. PayPal has its own buyer protection. Wherever possible, pay directly with your credit card rather than funding PayPal first.

Common Section 75 Scenarios

Real-world uses: airline or holiday company going bust (claim for flights or holidays not delivered), online retailer refusing to honour warranty or return policy, goods arriving significantly different from description, event cancelled with no refund offered, and builder taking payment then abandoning a project. Section 75 is particularly valuable when retailers are uncooperative or have gone into administration — your credit card company becomes your fallback.
#Section 75#credit card protection#consumer rights UK#chargebacks#refunds

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