Can I claim from my credit card company if something goes wrong?
Yes — if you paid by credit card and the item or service cost over £100 (up to £30,000), your card provider is equally liable with the retailer. The basis is section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. If there's a breach of contract or misrepresentation — faulty goods, a service not provided, a firm that goes bust — your credit card provider is jointly and severally liable with the retailer, so you can claim from either, and you don't have to chase the retailer first. The single item's cash price must be over £100 and up to £30,000, but you're covered even if you only paid part on the card — for example a £200 deposit on a £3,000 holiday protects the whole £3,000. For debit cards, the fallback is chargeback (no minimum, usually within 120 days). In short: yes for credit-card purchases in that price band.
📋 The rules
- Card provider is equally liable with the retailer (s.75)
- Item's cash price over £100 and up to £30,000
- Covered even if you paid only part on the card
- Claim from either party — needn't chase the retailer first
- Debit cards: use chargeback instead (usually 120 days)
🔓 Exceptions
- No s.75 for debit/prepaid cards, BNPL, or via PayPal/marketplaces
- Doesn't apply under £100 or over £30,000 (s.75A may help linked finance)
- Additional cardholders can't claim; not for cash withdrawals
⚠️ Penalties & fines
This is a protection, not a penalty. The threshold is the item's cash price over £100 and up to £30,000 — and crucially, that's the item's price, not the amount on the card, so a small deposit still protects the full price. There's no statutory deadline to make a s.75 claim, but normal limitation applies (about 6 years in England and Wales, 5 in Scotland). Chargeback (for debit and credit) is usually within 120 days. If your provider refuses, you can escalate free to the Financial Ombudsman. Beware a myth: "the £100 limit is what I must put on the card" is false — it's the item's cash price; a deposit on the card still protects the whole purchase. To claim: contact your card provider, explain the breach or misrepresentation, and escalate to the Ombudsman if needed.
📎 Official sources
- MoneyHelper — how you're protected when you pay by card →
- Which? — Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act →
- Financial Ombudsman — goods and services bought on credit →
❓ Frequently asked
What is Section 75 protection?
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes your credit card provider jointly and severally liable with the retailer for breach of contract or misrepresentation. If something you bought is faulty, not delivered, or the company goes bust, you can claim from your card provider as well as, or instead of, the retailer.
What's the price range covered?
Section 75 applies where the cash price of a single item or service is more than £100 and no more than £30,000. Importantly, this is the price of the item, not the amount you put on the card, so paying just a deposit by credit card on a more expensive purchase still gives you full protection.
Am I covered if I only paid a deposit on the card?
Yes. As long as you paid at least part of the cost on your credit card, and the item's cash price is over £100 and up to £30,000, you're covered for the whole amount. For example, a £200 deposit by credit card on a £3,000 holiday protects the full £3,000 under Section 75.
What about debit cards?
Debit cards aren't covered by Section 75, because that protection applies to credit. Instead, you can use chargeback, a scheme run by the card networks that lets your bank try to reverse the payment. Chargeback has no minimum spend, but you usually need to claim within around 120 days, and it's not a legal right.
What if my card provider refuses to pay?
If your credit card provider rejects a valid Section 75 claim, you can escalate the complaint, free of charge, to the Financial Ombudsman Service, usually within six months of the provider's final response. The Ombudsman can review the case and order the provider to pay if it agrees you have a valid claim.
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