Section 75
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes a credit card provider jointly responsible with the retailer for goods or services that cost more than £100 and up to £30,000. If the retailer fails to deliver, goes out of business, or supplies a faulty item, you can claim from the card provider.
You pay £600 for a holiday on your credit card. The travel firm collapses before you can travel. You claim the £600 back from your credit card provider under Section 75.
- Section 75 covers any spend over £100 on a credit card, not just full purchases. Even a £100 deposit on a £2,000 item is enough to trigger protection on the full amount.
- Section 75 is not the same as chargeback. Section 75 is a legal right under the Consumer Credit Act; chargeback is a card scheme courtesy. Section 75 is usually stronger.
- Section 75 does not apply to debit cards, prepaid cards, or payments below £100.
Why it matters
Section 75 is one of the strongest consumer protections in UK law. It does not depend on the retailer’s goodwill, the size of the company, or whether they are still trading. The credit card provider is legally joint and several with the retailer for the qualifying portion of the transaction.
That matters most when something goes wrong: the retailer disappears, the goods do not arrive, the service is not what was advertised, or the item turns out to be faulty in a way the retailer will not put right.
Common confusion
People often think Section 75 only protects the part of the price paid on the card. It does not. If you put a £200 deposit on a £3,000 fitted kitchen using a credit card and the company collapses before installing, Section 75 covers the whole £3,000, not just the £200.
People also confuse Section 75 with chargeback. Chargeback is run by Visa, Mastercard or Amex as part of their card scheme rules. It applies more widely (including debit cards and lower-value transactions) but has shorter time limits and is not a legal right. Section 75 is narrower in scope but stronger when it applies. If both routes are open, Section 75 is usually the safer route for higher-value claims.