What is chargeback?
Chargeback is a process under Visa and Mastercard rules that lets you dispute a card transaction and request your money back through your bank. It applies to both debit and credit card payments.
Unlike Section 75 (which only applies to credit cards over £100), chargeback has no minimum transaction value — you can use it for any amount.
Time limits
You generally have 120 days from the transaction date (or from when you became aware of the problem) to initiate a chargeback. In some circumstances, particularly for fraud, the window can extend to 540 days.
Because of the short window, it’s important to act quickly if chargeback is relevant to your case.
The process
Contact your bank and explain you want to dispute the transaction. They will raise the chargeback with the merchant’s bank. The merchant can accept or dispute it.
If the merchant disputes, the case goes through an arbitration process under the card scheme rules. This is one reason chargeback is less robust than Section 75 — the merchant can fight back.
When to use chargeback vs other routes
Chargeback is best for quick disputes where the goods weren’t delivered or the service was fraudulent. For larger amounts paid by credit card, Section 75 is stronger. For bank transfers, the PSR mandatory reimbursement route applies instead.
In many cases, you can pursue chargeback alongside other routes to maximise your chances.