Around £1.3 billion was lost to fraud in the UK in 2023, and a large chunk of that involved card payments. If you paid with a credit card for something between £100 and £30,000 and the goods never arrived, turned out faulty, or the supplier went bust, your card provider is jointly liable with the seller under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. That means you can claim your money back from the bank, not just the retailer. But most people don’t realise this protection exists, or they assume it covers every card payment the same way. It doesn’t.
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This article is general information only and does not constitute professional advice. For your specific situation, consult a qualified professional.
The gap between what people think their credit card covers and what it actually covers is wide. Paying with a credit card gives you stronger legal rights than debit or cash, but those rights have specific conditions, limits, and deadlines. Miss one and you could be left chasing a supplier that no longer exists. Here’s what you actually need to know.
Before going further, it helps to pin down the main legal mechanism. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is the provision that makes your credit card provider jointly and severally liable with the seller when something goes wrong with a purchase between £100 and £30,000. It applies whether you paid the full amount or just a deposit on the card, as long as the total item cost falls within that range.
What I tend to notice is that people either assume Section 75 covers everything or have never heard of it. The reality sits somewhere in the middle — powerful but bounded.
Section 75 thresholds, chargeback limits, and what each means for your money
The most important number in credit card protection is £100. Spend £99.99 on a credit card and Section 75 doesn’t apply. Spend £100.01 and the full purchase is protected, even if you only put a £1 deposit on the card. The upper limit is £30,000 per item. That covers most big purchases — furniture, holidays, home improvements, electronics — but not a new car or a kitchen extension if the total exceeds £30,000.
Chargeback has no minimum spend, which makes it the fallback for anything under £100 or for debit card payments. But it’s not a legal right — it’s a voluntary process run by Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Your card issuer can refuse to pursue it, and the retailer’s bank can push back. The typical deadline is 120 days from the transaction date or when you first noticed the problem, whichever is later.
For authorised push payment (APP) fraud — where you’re tricked into authorising a payment — the rules changed in October 2024. Banks must now reimburse victims up to £85,000 under mandatory reimbursement rules, provided you reported it promptly and weren’t grossly negligent. That’s separate from Section 75 and chargeback, but it’s another layer of protection if someone impersonates a retailer or service provider.
→ Scroll right to see all columns
| Protection type | Value range | Legal status | Claim window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 75 | £100 – £30,000 | Statutory right | 6 years (limitation period) |
| Chargeback | Any amount | Voluntary scheme | ~120 days |
| APP fraud reimbursement | Up to £85,000 | Mandatory (from Oct 2024) | Report immediately |
The practical difference is stark. If you buy a sofa for £1,200 on a credit card and it arrives damaged, Section 75 lets you claim the full £1,200 from your card provider regardless of whether the retailer cooperates. If you buy a £90 lamp on the same card and it’s faulty, you’re relying on chargeback — and if the retailer’s bank disputes it, you may get nothing. That’s why knowing which protection applies to which purchase matters before something goes wrong.
Where people slip up with credit card protection
Assuming Section 75 covers marketplace and third-party purchases
Buy something on an online marketplace like Amazon or eBay and the legal link between you, the seller, and your card provider can break. If the marketplace acts as an intermediary rather than the direct seller, Section 75 may not apply. The card provider can argue there’s no direct contractual relationship. Chargeback or the platform’s own buyer protection becomes your only option. Always check who you’re actually buying from before assuming Section 75 covers the transaction.
Missing the chargeback deadline by even a day
Chargeback windows are strict. Most card networks set a 120-day limit from the transaction or when the issue became apparent. Miss it and the payment can’t be reversed through this route. Unlike Section 75, which has a six-year limitation period, chargeback runs on network rules, not statute. If you’re relying on chargeback for a £50 item, act as soon as you spot the problem — don’t wait to see if the retailer responds.
Thinking PayPal payments carry the same protection
Pay using a credit card through your PayPal account and the credit agreement is with PayPal, not the retailer. Section 75 generally won’t apply because the direct link between you, the seller, and your card issuer is broken. You’re covered by PayPal’s own buyer protection, which has different terms and lower limits. If you want Section 75 protection, pay directly with the credit card rather than routing through a third-party wallet.
Ignoring the single-item rule on combined purchases
Buy a dining table for £800 and six chairs at £90 each on the same credit card transaction. The table is protected under Section 75. The chairs aren’t — each is under £100, even though the total bill exceeds £30,000. The threshold applies per item, not per receipt. If you’re making a mixed purchase, consider splitting the payment method: credit card for items over £100, debit or cash for the rest.
How to make a Section 75 or chargeback claim from start to finish
Contact the retailer first — but don’t wait too long
Before involving your card provider, try to resolve the issue with the seller. Send a written request for a refund or replacement and keep copies of all correspondence. If the retailer responds within 14 days, you may get your money back without needing to escalate. If they ignore you or refuse, move to the next step. The exception is if the retailer has gone into administration — in that case, go straight to your card provider.
Submit a formal claim to your card issuer
Call or write to your credit card provider and state clearly that you’re making a claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act (or requesting a chargeback if the value is under £100 or you used a debit card). Provide transaction details, receipts, order confirmations, and any communication with the retailer. Most providers have a dedicated disputes team. Ask for written confirmation that your claim has been logged and for an estimated response time.
Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service if rejected
If your provider rejects the claim or doesn’t respond within eight weeks, you can take the case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). This is free and independent. The FOS will review the evidence and decide whether the provider should pay out. Their decisions are binding on the provider but not on you — if you disagree, you can still take the matter to court. For Section 75 claims, the six-year limitation period gives you room to pursue this without rushing.
Keep records for at least six years
Section 75 claims can take months to resolve, especially if they go to the Ombudsman. Keep every email, receipt, screenshot, and bank statement related to the purchase and the dispute. The limitation period for bringing a court claim is six years from when the problem arose, so don’t discard anything until well after that window closes.
- 1Contact the retailer in writingRequest a refund or replacement. Keep copies of all correspondence. If no response in 14 days, proceed to step 2.
- 2Submit a Section 75 or chargeback claim to your card issuerState the legal basis (Section 75 or chargeback). Provide transaction evidence, receipts, and retailer correspondence. Get written confirmation of your claim.
- 3Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service if neededAfter 8 weeks or a final rejection, refer the case to the FOS. Free, independent, and binding on the provider.
- 4Keep all records for 6+ yearsHold onto every document related to the purchase and dispute. The limitation period for court action is six years.
What’s changing in 2026 and beyond
The Consumer Credit Act 1974 is being overhauled. The Financial Services and Markets Bill 2026, introduced in the House of Lords on 19 May 2026, moves most of the CCA’s detailed information requirements into FCA rules. But two key protections are staying in primary legislation: Section 75 and Section 140A (the unfair relationship remedy). That means your right to claim from your card provider isn’t going anywhere. What is changing is the removal of unenforceability sanctions — currently, if a lender fails to comply with certain technical rules, the debt can become legally unrecoverable. That sanction is being repealed and replaced with FCA enforcement powers. Consumer groups have raised concerns that this reduces a deterrent to non-compliance, but for most cardholders the practical impact will be minimal.
Separately, buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) products — now called deferred payment credit — will fall under FCA regulation from 15 July 2026. That means affordability assessments, pre-contract information, and access to the Financial Ombudsman Service. But Section 75 does not extend to BNPL, so those purchases won’t have the same joint-liability protection as credit card transactions.
Does Section 75 cover overseas purchases? ▾
What if I only paid a deposit on my credit card? ▾
Can I use Section 75 for a service that wasn’t delivered? ▾
Does Section 75 cover fraud or unauthorised transactions? ▾
What happens if my card provider goes bust before paying my claim? ▾
Are business credit card purchases covered? ▾
Credit card protection is only as good as your awareness of its limits
The 2026 reforms won’t weaken Section 75, but they will change the regulatory landscape around it. The removal of unenforceability sanctions means lenders have less to fear from technical non-compliance, though the FCA’s enforcement powers and the Consumer Duty are meant to fill that gap. For now, the most practical move is to know the thresholds before you buy, keep records as a matter of habit, and act fast when something goes wrong. The difference between recovering £1,200 and losing it often comes down to whether you knew Section 75 applied to that specific purchase.
Remember: this article is general information only. For advice on your specific situation, speak to a qualified professional.
If this was useful, you might also want to read essential tips for credit card travel insurance in the UK.
Sources and Further Reading
Understanding the waiting period for personal insurance in the UK — A practical look at how waiting periods affect claims timing, relevant if you’re considering insurance alongside credit card protection.
UKLegalGuides (2026). Credit Card Protection for Purchases. 🔗
Kaeltripton.com (2026). Consumer Credit Act Reform UK 2026. 🔗
CCTA (2026). A Raft of Changes: Consumer Credit Rules in 2026. 🔗
Commoner Law (2026). Fraud and Scam Protection. 🔗
