Section 75 Credit Card Claims

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#At a Glance

Difficulty	⭐ Easy
Time to DIY	1 hour
Payout	Full purchase price
Time Limit	6 years
Escalation	Financial Ombudsman Service

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#What Is It?

Section 75 makes your credit card provider jointly and severally liable with the seller for:

• Breach of contract – goods/services not as described
• Misrepresentation – seller made false claims

This means you can claim from your card provider if the seller won't (or can't) help.

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#Am I Eligible?

#✅ Section 75 applies if:

• You paid by credit card (not debit card)
• The item/service cost between £100 and £30,000
• There was a breach of contract or misrepresentation
• The payment was for goods or services (not cash advances)

#✅ Even works when:

• The seller has gone bust
• You only paid a deposit by credit card (if over £100)
• The rest was paid another way
• The seller is overseas

#❌ Section 75 doesn't apply if:

• You used a debit card (use chargeback instead)
• Total item price was under £100 (use chargeback)
• Total item price was over £30,000
• You used PayPal balance or similar (breaks the debtor-creditor-supplier link)

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#Common Section 75 Scenarios

Scenario	Can You Claim?
Holiday company goes bust	✅ Yes
Faulty goods seller won't refund	✅ Yes
Paid deposit by credit card, balance by bank transfer	✅ Yes (if deposit over £100)
Item not as described	✅ Yes
Bought via PayPal funded by credit card	⚠️ Maybe – disputed
Used debit card	❌ No – use chargeback
Item cost £50	❌ No – below £100 threshold

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#Step-by-Step Process

#Step 1: Try the Seller First

• Contact the seller and request a refund/replacement
• Keep evidence of your attempts
• If they refuse or can't help, move to Section 75

#Step 2: Gather Evidence

• Credit card statement showing the transaction
• Proof of what went wrong (photos, emails, etc.)
• Any correspondence with the seller

#Step 3: Submit Section 75 Claim to Card Provider

• Call or write to your credit card company
• State you're making a "Section 75 claim"
• Explain the breach of contract or misrepresentation
• Include all evidence

📝 Use our template: Section 75 Claim Letter

#Step 4: Wait for Response

• Card provider should respond within 8 weeks
• They may want to investigate
• If rejected or delayed, escalate to FOS

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#Evidence You'll Need

• Credit card statement showing payment
• Proof of purchase (receipt, order confirmation)
• Evidence of the problem (photos, reports)
• Correspondence with seller
• Terms and conditions (if relevant)

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#Section 75 vs Chargeback

	Section 75	Chargeback
Card type	Credit card only	Credit AND debit cards
Legal right	Yes – statutory right	No – card scheme rules
Amount limits	£100–£30,000	No minimum
Time limit	6 years	120 days (usually)
Seller bust	Still works	Still works

📊 See the full comparison: Section 75 vs Chargeback

Strategy: Try both if applicable. Chargeback is faster but weaker. Section 75 is your legal right.

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#Common Questions

Q: I paid a £150 deposit by credit card but the item cost £1,000 – am I covered?

Yes. The total item price is £1,000 (within limits), and you paid part by credit card. The whole purchase is covered.

Q: The credit card company says I should claim from the seller first – is that right?

You should make reasonable attempts to contact the seller, but if they've gone bust or won't help, you can go straight to Section 75.

Q: I used my business credit card – does Section 75 apply?

Only if you're a sole trader or partnership and the credit was under £25,000. Limited companies aren't protected.

Q: The card company rejected my claim – what now?

Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman. FOS often overturns Section 75 rejections.

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