Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act gives you extra protection for any purchase on a credit card between £100 and £30,000, saving you thousands if something goes wrong. Read our guide, and start making the most of the security of your credit card.
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act lets you reclaim the full amount of a faulty purchase through your credit card company
Check you know when you can and can’t claim under Section 75
See if you can claim for any extra costs on top of your refund
What is Section 75?
It’s part of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, and gives you legal rights to a refund if anything goes wrong with a purchase made on a credit card.
Can I make a claim under Section 75?
You can make a claim if you order something and the retailer goes bust, if the item never arrives, or is faulty.
The purchase must cost between £100 and £30,000. Even if you only put down a deposit on your credit card and pay the rest by another means, you can still claim back the full amount, as long as the total cost is between £100 and £30,000.
When can I use section 75?
If you purchase a product that never turns up, or pay for a service that is never provided, and it costs more than £100, you can use Section 75 to claim a refund. For example, a £120 coat you ordered never turns up and you can’t get hold of the retailer.
Can I claim for additional costs?
If you’re forced to spend some more money because of the problem, you can claim this back from the credit card company as well.
For example, if you buy a car and it breaks down soon after, and you have to pay for roadside recovery, you could also claim for the cost of the rescue.
Section 75 Exceptions:
Purchases through a third party:
Section 75 may not apply when you’ve bought something via a third party, like Amazon marketplace, or used an online payment processor such as PayPal or WorldPay.
But, you may find you’re covered in another way. For example, most holidays should come with ATOL protection.
Purchases made by an additional cardholder:
If someone else has an additional card on your credit card account, anything they buy may not be covered. To make a successful Section 75 claim you must prove the item benefited the primary cardholder.
Cash withdrawals:
Taking out cash on a credit card and using the cash to pay doesn’t give you Section 75 protection
Which credit card should I use?
Every credit card is covered by Section 75. Use our credit card table to find the one best suited for you and your needs, and see how likely you are to be accepted before you apply.
How do I make a claim?
Contact the retailer:
It’s usually far easier to get a refund from the retailer, so this should be your first option. But, if the retailer has gone bust, isn’t responding to you, or is abroad, then get in touch with your credit card company.
This is the company that issues your credit card, not Visa or Mastercard. For example, if you have a Barclaycard Visa you need to make a claim with Barclaycard, not Visa.
Call your credit card provider:
Tell them you want to make a claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Make it clear that you know you have a legal right to make a claim.
Fill out a claim form:
Your credit card provider will provide you with a claim form to fill out. Be sure you state on the form that you are making a claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
Is there any protection with debit cards?
If you paid for goods with a debit card, you could be protected under ‘chargeback’.
This is offered by American Express, MasterCard and Visa. It involves asking your bank to reverse a transaction and refund money back into your account, and there’s no limit on the amount to claim.
Try to sort out your problem with the retailer first. But, if you need to make the claim, you must do so within 120 days of realising there’s a problem.
Unlike Section 75, chargeback is not law, so you’re not guaranteed a refund.
Section 75 is there to give you some reassurance that if something were to go wrong, you’re not going to be left out of pocket.
