C onsumer R ights
SCAMS
Scammers have become
more sophisticated in their
bid to part us from our cash.
From email scams and copy-
cat websites to nuisance
calls and tax rebate scams,
we need our wits about us.
Our guides help you spot a
scam or get money back.
I
t’s not always clear who you should report a scam
to or how to get your money back if you’ve been
scammed. Our guides tell you how to report scams
and get your money back; how to get your money
back after a scam; how to get your money back after
a scam. We’re urging the government to ensure
companies safeguard us all from scams. Sign the
petition now.
must have cost more than £100 and not more than
£30,000.
I paid using a debit card
If you used a debit card, you may be able to ask your
bank to get your money back through the charge-
back scheme.
Chargeback is not enshrined in law but is part of
Scheme Rules, which participating banks subscribe
to.
It applies to all debit card transactions including
goods costing less than £100, although exact rules
may vary between the American Express, Maestro
and Visa networks.
But, there are no guarantees your bank will be able
to recover the money through chargeback.
Chargeback also applies to credit card transactions
but will be particularly useful where goods cost less
than £100 and so section 75 doesn’t apply.
If you want to use chargeback to get your money
back after a scam, this letter template could help.
I paid using a credit card
If you’ve paid for goods or services with a credit or
debit card, you have greater protection if things go
wrong under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act
or by using chargeback. But whether you can make
a claim or not depends on the type of scam you
have fallen for. An example of a scam where you
could use section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act
or chargeback would be a scam where you paid for
goods or services and it turns out these were ei-
ther never available or the ‘seller’ has disappeared.
Credit cards have the greatest protection, as you
can make a claim against your card provider under
section 75. Under section 75, the credit card com-
pany is jointly and severally liable for any breach of
contract or misrepresentation by the company. For
section 75 to apply the item or service you bought
I used a bank transfer
If you’ve been caught out by a complex and convinc-
ing scam which has resulted in you transferring your
money into another bank account than you should
contact your bank immediately.
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