Finance glossary
Section 75 — Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act
Also known as: Section 75 protection, s75
In simple terms
Section 75 is a law that makes your credit card provider equally responsible with the seller if something you buy on the card is faulty, not as described, or never arrives — for purchases over £100 and up to £30,000.
On this page
What does Section 75 mean?
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 gives you a powerful protection when you buy something on a credit card. It makes the card provider “jointly and severally liable” with the retailer — meaning you can claim against the card company as if it were the seller — for breach of contract or misrepresentation.
It applies to a single item costing over £100 and up to £30,000. This makes it especially valuable for larger purchases, deposits and cases where the retailer has gone out of business or refuses to help.
How Section 75 works
The £100 threshold is about the cash price of the item, not how much you put on the card. So if you pay only a deposit on a credit card, the whole item can still be covered as long as its price is over £100. There must also be a direct link between you, the seller and the card provider.
Section 75 applies to credit cards, not to debit cards or prepaid cards. If a purchase falls outside it — for example, it is under £100 or paid by debit card — you may still be able to use chargeback instead.
How could this affect me?
If a retailer goes bust, delivers faulty goods or misdescribes what you bought, you can claim from your credit card provider rather than chasing the seller. This is genuine legal protection, not a discretionary goodwill gesture.
It is one of the strongest reasons to put big purchases, deposits for holidays, furniture, home improvements or event tickets on a credit card — even if you pay the balance off straight away.
Example
You pay a £50 deposit by credit card on a £900 sofa, then the retailer goes bust before it is delivered:
| Cash price of the sofa | £900 |
|---|---|
| Paid on credit card | £50 deposit |
| Over the £100 threshold? | Yes — the item price is what counts |
| Amount you can claim | The full £900 |
Because the item cost over £100, Section 75 lets you claim the whole price from the card provider, not just the £50 you paid on the card.
Things to watch out for
- It only applies to credit cards — not debit cards, prepaid cards or bank transfers.
- The item must cost over £100 and no more than £30,000; the threshold is the item’s price, not what you paid on the card.
- Buying through some third-party payment services can break the direct link needed for a claim.
- It covers breach of contract and misrepresentation, not simply changing your mind.
Know your rights
- Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the credit card provider is jointly and severally liable with the retailer for breach of contract or misrepresentation on a single item costing over £100 and up to £30,000.
- You can claim directly from the card provider, and it applies even if you paid only part of the price (such as a deposit) on the card.
- If the provider rejects a valid claim, you can complain and escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
General information, not personal advice
Consumer Credit is an independent information service. We do not provide regulated financial advice or sell financial products. For advice on your own situation, speak to an appropriately authorised firm or a free service such as MoneyHelper. About Consumer Credit.
Sources
We checked this page against these official and authoritative sources.
- legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Credit Act 1974 — section 75 (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.
- MoneyHelper, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.