How buying on credit card can offer 'extra protection'

YOUR CONSUMER RIGHTS CHAMPION

- MARTYN JAMES

Paying for goods and services on a credit card can be a costly business.

High interest rates, complicated bills and unexpected life events can all make using a credit card risky.

But did you know that paying for things on your credit card can give you an extra layer of protection if you're in a dispute with a business, or if they go bust? Here's my guide to making a claim under the Consumer Credit Act (CCA).

The CCA says that if you pay for goods or services with a credit card or certain specific types of credit agreement you could get a refund from the credit provider as what you buy costs between £100 and £30,000. This is known as a 'section 75 claim'. You can make a claim if:

■ The goods or services you've paid for don't turn up.

■ The goods or services aren't as advertised, are faulty or have been 'misrepresented'.

■ Something goes wrong during the contract (like a badly fitted conservatory, or an ongoing service changes or is cancelled).