Chargeback letter
generator
Check if you can get your money back through a chargeback and generate a letter for your bank.
All Major Cards
Works with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express chargebacks.
Time Limit Check
Instantly tells you if you’re within the chargeback window.
Free Letter Template
Get a ready-to-send letter for your bank’s disputes team.
Chargeback Eligibility Check
Enter your transaction details to check if you can request a chargeback.
Chargeback vs Section 75
Any card, any amount. Card scheme rules (not law). 120 days.
Credit cards only, £100.01–£30,000. UK law. 6 years.
Common questions
What is a chargeback?
A chargeback lets you ask your bank to reverse a card transaction. It’s different from a refund: the bank takes the money back from the merchant on your behalf.
How long do I have to file a chargeback?
Generally 120 days from the transaction date for Visa, Mastercard, and Amex. Some dispute types have shorter windows.
What’s the difference between a chargeback and Section 75?
Chargebacks work with debit AND credit cards but are a card scheme rule, not law. Section 75 only applies to credit card purchases £100.01-£30,000 but is backed by UK legislation, making it stronger.
Can I do a chargeback on a debit card?
Yes. Chargeback is the main way to reverse a debit card payment, because Section 75 only covers credit cards. You ask your bank to raise a chargeback under the Visa or Mastercard scheme, usually within 120 days of the transaction.
Can I claim a chargeback for less than £100?
Yes. Unlike Section 75, chargeback has no minimum amount, so it’s the route to use for smaller purchases that fall below Section 75's £100 floor.
What can I request a chargeback for?
Goods or services that never arrived, arrived faulty or not as described, a retailer that went bust before delivering, a duplicate or incorrect charge, or a subscription you cancelled but were still billed for.
How long does a chargeback take?
Once your bank raises it, a provisional refund often appears within a few days to a couple of weeks. The merchant can dispute it (called representment), which can extend the process to 45-90 days.
Can a retailer fight a chargeback?
Yes. The merchant can challenge it with evidence, a process called representment. Keep your proof (order confirmations, tracking, and screenshots) so your bank can uphold the claim.
Chargeback or Section 75? How to choose
They both claw money back through your card, but they are not the same tool. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act is the stronger option when it applies, because your card provider is jointly liable by law. The catch: it only covers credit cards, and only purchases between £100.01 and £30,000. Chargeback fills the gaps Section 75 leaves.
Use a chargeback instead of, or alongside, Section 75 when any of these apply:
- You paid on a debit card. Section 75 does not cover debit cards at all, so chargeback is your only card route.
- The purchase was under £100, below the Section 75 floor.
- The retailer went bust before your goods arrived, or the service was never delivered.
- You were charged twice, billed the wrong amount, or a cancelled subscription kept taking payments.
If you paid £100 or more on a credit card, check your Section 75 protection first, since it is harder for the bank to refuse. For everything else, a chargeback is usually the faster path.
Chargeback time limits
You generally have 120 days to raise a chargeback, but how that window is counted matters. For a normal transaction it runs from the payment date. For goods or services you were promised but never received, it usually runs from the date delivery was expected, not the date you paid, which can buy you more time on a pre-order or a holiday booked months ahead. Visa, Mastercard and Amex each cap the total at around 540 days from the transaction, so do not sit on it.
What happens after you file
Your bank raises the dispute with the retailer’s bank under the card scheme rules. A provisional refund often lands within a few days to a couple of weeks. The retailer can push back with evidence, a step called representment, which can stretch the process to 45-90 days.
That is why evidence wins chargebacks: keep order confirmations, delivery tracking, and screenshots of any promises the seller made. If the bank rejects a fair claim, you can escalate the bank’s handling to the Financial Ombudsman. For the wider picture on your refund and repair rights, see the UK consumer rights guide.
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