Section 75: How to Get a Refund Through Your Credit Card
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is one of the most powerful consumer protections in the UK, and one of the most underused. If you pay for goods or services between £100 and £30,000 using a credit card and something goes wrong, your credit card company is jointly liable with the seller. You can claim directly from your card company even if the retailer has gone bust or refuses to refund you.
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What is Section 75?
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes your credit card provider jointly and severally liable for any claim you have against the seller. This means:
- ✓Your credit card company has equal responsibility for your claim alongside the seller
- ✓You can claim directly from your card company, without having to chase the retailer
- ✓Your card company cannot simply tell you to go back to the seller
- ✓The protection applies to purchases between £100 and £30,000
- ✓If the seller has gone into administration or ceased trading, Section 75 is often your best (or only) option
- ✓Section 75 covers misrepresentation (you were mis-sold something) and breach of contract (goods not delivered, not as described, faulty)
When does Section 75 apply?
Section 75 applies when all of these conditions are met:
- ✓You paid by credit card, debit cards and prepaid cards are NOT covered (see chargeback below)
- ✓The purchase price was between £100 and £30,000
- ✓The item or service was purchased as a consumer (not for business purposes)
- ✓There is a direct relationship between the card company and the credit agreement (most UK personal credit cards qualify)
- ✓You have a legitimate claim against the retailer, misrepresentation or breach of contract
What can you claim under Section 75?
You can claim under Section 75 for:
- ✓Goods not delivered, company went bust, delivery never arrived
- ✓Services not provided, holiday cancelled, event cancelled, trader ceased trading
- ✓Goods significantly not as described, what you received is materially different from what was advertised
- ✓Faulty goods, the seller refuses to honour repair, replacement, or refund rights
- ✓Misrepresentation, you were deceived about what you were buying
- ✓Package holidays cancelled, if the ATOL/ABTA protection does not cover you, Section 75 may
- ✓Online purchases where the website has disappeared or the seller refuses to engage
How to make a Section 75 claim
Section 75 vs chargeback, what is the difference?
Chargeback is a different protection, it is a Visa, Mastercard, or Amex scheme rule, not a statutory right. Key differences:
- Statutory legal right
- Credit cards ONLY
- £100 to £30,000
- No time limit in statute
- Covers misrepresentation AND breach of contract
- Card company jointly liable
- Scheme rule (not a law)
- Debit AND credit cards
- Any amount (no minimum)
- 120 days from transaction (Visa/MC)
- Mainly non-delivery, not as described
- Merchant bears the loss
Does Section 75 apply to purchases made abroad or online?
- ✓Section 75 applies to purchases made on a UK-regulated credit card, regardless of where the purchase was made
- ✓Online purchases from overseas retailers can be covered, what matters is that your credit card is UK-regulated
- ✓However, there is some legal uncertainty about whether Section 75 applies to indirect purchases (e.g. via PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay), in some cases, the payment intermediary breaks the 'direct relationship' required by the Act
- ✓If you pay directly with your credit card details (not through an intermediary), Section 75 should apply
- ✓American Express cards: AmEx acts as both card issuer and credit provider, so Section 75 generally applies
- ✓Corporate credit cards: Section 75 does not apply to business credit card purchases, only personal consumer purchases
Common Section 75 scenarios
- ✓Airline or travel company goes bust: if you booked flights directly with your credit card and the airline ceases operating, claim under Section 75 (and check ATOL protection too)
- ✓Online retailer takes your money and disappears: Section 75 gives you a route to recover the money directly from your card company
- ✓Car purchase: if you bought a car for over £100 with a credit card and it is significantly not as described, Section 75 applies, even if the dealer is still trading and refusing to help
- ✓Home improvements: a builder takes a deposit by credit card and does shoddy work or disappears, Section 75 may recover the deposit
- ✓Cancelled events: concert tickets, festivals, or events cancelled and the promoter refuses to refund, claim from your card company
Get instant help right now
A Citizens Advice appointment can take weeks. Our free assistant is available 24/7 with no appointment, giving you clear, step-by-step answers about your exact situation, what to do next, and the deadlines that matter.
Need to take action? It can draft a ready-to-send formal letter for you (optional, from £4.99).
England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
What is Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act?
Section 75 makes your credit card company jointly liable with the retailer for any claim you have against them. If you pay for goods or services between £100 and £30,000 on a credit card and there is a breach of contract or misrepresentation, you can claim the money back directly from your card company, even if the retailer has gone bust or refuses to help.
Does Section 75 apply to debit cards?
No. Section 75 applies only to credit cards. Debit card purchases are covered by the chargeback scheme instead, a Visa/Mastercard rule that allows you to dispute transactions, but with a 120-day time limit. Chargeback is not a legal right like Section 75, but it is still worth using for debit card purchases under £100 or over £30,000.
Can I use Section 75 if I only paid part of the purchase on a credit card?
Yes. Even if you only paid £1 of the total on your credit card (with the rest paid by another method), Section 75 still applies as long as the total purchase price of the individual item was between £100 and £30,000. You can claim the full purchase price from your card company, not just the amount you put on the card.
How long do I have to make a Section 75 claim?
The Consumer Credit Act 1974 does not set a specific time limit for Section 75 claims. However, the general statute of limitations of 6 years applies. In practice, you should make your claim as soon as possible, both to improve your chances of success and to comply with your credit card company's own claim procedures.
What if my credit card company refuses a Section 75 claim?
If your card company refuses a valid Section 75 claim, raise a formal complaint with them first. If the complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), free of charge, with no limit on the size of complaint. The FOS regularly upholds Section 75 disputes where card companies have wrongly refused valid claims.
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