Chargeback vs Section 75: Which Gets Your Money Back Faster?

When a purchase goes wrong — the company folds, goods never arrive, or a service isn't as described — most people don't know they may have two separate routes to a refund, with very different rules.

Section 75: the stronger legal right

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act gives you a statutory right against your credit card provider, not just the retailer, for qualifying purchases costing between £100 and £30,000, according to MoneyHelper. Crucially, the card company becomes jointly and equally liable with the seller — so if the retailer has gone bust or refuses to help, you can claim directly from your card issuer instead, as explained by Citizens Advice.

This only applies to credit cards, not debit cards, and only within that £100–£30,000 spending band — even if you only put down a small deposit on your credit card for a larger purchase, according to MoneySavingExpert's Section 75 guide. There's no fixed time limit beyond the general six-year limitation period for court claims.

Chargeback: faster, but not a legal right

Chargeback works through the card payment network's own rules (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) rather than statute, and applies to both debit and credit cards with no minimum purchase amount, according to UK Finance. The catch is that your bank generally needs to start the chargeback claim within 120 days of the transaction, or of when you were due to receive the goods or services, per guidance from LawClarity. Because it isn't a legal entitlement, the outcome depends on scheme rules and your bank's discretion.

Which one should you use?

If your purchase qualifies for Section 75 — credit card, £100–£30,000 — use that first, since it's the stronger and more enforceable protection. Reach for chargeback when you paid by debit card, spent under £100, or you're outside the qualifying amount but still within 120 days of the transaction.

If both routes are refused, or you disagree with your bank's decision, you can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service free of charge.

Checklist: getting your money back

• Identify how you paid — credit card, debit card, or another method — since this determines which protection applies.
• Check the purchase price: over £100 and under £30,000 on a credit card means Section 75 likely applies.
• If you're outside those limits or paid by debit card, ask your bank about chargeback and act within 120 days of the transaction.
• Contact your card provider in writing, explain what went wrong, and reference Section 75 or chargeback by name.
• Keep all receipts, order confirmations, and correspondence with the retailer as evidence.
• If your claim is refused and you disagree, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service for a free, independent review.

Key Numbers

• £100–£30,000 — purchase value range covered by Section 75 on a credit card
• 120 days — typical window for a bank to start a chargeback claim
• 6 years — general limitation period for bringing a Section 75 claim to court
• £0 — cost of escalating an unresolved dispute to the Financial Ombudsman Service

Sources

• MoneyHelper: Section 75 and chargeback protection
• Citizens Advice: Getting your money back if you paid by card or PayPal
• MoneySavingExpert: Section 75 refunds
• UK Finance: Chargeback and Section 75
• Financial Ombudsman Service: Goods and services bought on credit

Educational content only — not financial advice.