When to use this tool: use this for card-payment scams that fall outside the PSR Mandatory Reimbursement Scheme. The PSR scheme covers UK Faster Payments (bank transfers) only — not credit or debit card payments. For card-payment scams, the right routes are chargeback (any card) or Section 75 (credit card, £100–£30,000). For bank transfers use the PSR Claim Wizard instead.

Chargeback vs Section 75 — what’s the difference?

Chargeback

A chargeback is a card-scheme dispute resolution process. It is operated by Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover under their respective scheme rules — not by UK statute. When you ask your card issuer to chargeback a transaction, the issuer applies for the disputed amount to be reversed via the scheme network. The merchant’s bank either accepts or contests the chargeback.

Available for: all credit, debit and prepaid card payments. No statutory minimum or maximum amount. Time limit: typically 120 days from the transaction date for goods/services not received; up to 540 days for specific dispute categories.

Chargeback is the right route for: goods or services that weren’t delivered, items not as described, fraudulent merchant transactions, or merchant errors.

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974

Section 75 is a UK statutory right that makes your credit-card issuer jointly and severally liable with the merchant for any breach of contract or misrepresentation. It is more powerful than chargeback because it’s a legal right, not a scheme rule — the card issuer cannot refuse to consider a valid claim.

Available for: credit-card purchases only (not debit cards) where the total purchase price is £100–£30,000. The credit card need only have been used to pay a part of the purchase — even a £1 deposit on a credit card triggers Section 75 protection for the full transaction.

Time limit: up to 6 years from the date of purchase under the Limitation Act 1980 (5 years in Scotland).

Section 75 is the right route for: faulty goods, misrepresented services, holiday providers that go bankrupt, retailers that disappear, and most other consumer-rights breaches involving a credit card.

What this generator does NOT cover

UK bank transfers (Faster Payments). Use the PSR Claim Wizard.
Direct debits. Refunded same-day under the Direct Debit Guarantee — call your bank.
Cryptocurrency transfers. Once funds leave the regulated banking system, formal recovery routes become very limited.
Cash payments. Not covered by chargeback or Section 75. Pursue via small claims court.
Disputes with non-merchants (e.g. money sent to a friend or family member). Not covered.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use both chargeback AND Section 75?

You should pursue one route at a time, but if one fails you can often switch to the other. Many advisers suggest starting with chargeback (faster, sometimes more flexible) and falling back to Section 75 if the chargeback is unsuccessful.

What if I paid the deposit on a credit card and the rest on a debit card?

Section 75 still applies to the entire purchase amount, as long as the credit-card payment was for the deposit (or any part of the transaction). The classic example: a £2,000 holiday paid with a £100 credit-card deposit and the rest on debit. Section 75 covers the full £2,000.

What if the bank refuses?

Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service after 8 weeks. The ombudsman is free for consumers and binding on the bank. Section 75 cases have a very high consumer success rate at the ombudsman.

How long does a chargeback take?

Card issuers must respond to a chargeback request within 30 days under their scheme rules. Most respond within 7–15 working days. The dispute itself can take 60–120 days to fully resolve via the scheme network.

Will chargeback affect my credit score?

No. Chargeback is a dispute resolution process, not a credit event. Your credit file and score are unaffected.

Related ScamSupport pages

PSR APP Claim Wizard — for UK bank-transfer fraud
UK Bank Fraud Contact Directory — 30+ banks with verified fraud lines
Recover hub — full Stage 2 playbook
CIFAS Protective Registration walkthrough — protect your credit file

Sources

This generator is provided for guidance only and is not legal advice. Card-scheme rules and Section 75 case law are nuanced; complex cases may warrant professional advice. Where the loss is substantial, consider engaging an SRA-regulated solicitor.

Chargeback & Section 75 Claim Generator