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In everyday digital life, there are basically two ways to get your money back when something goes wrong. Negotiate a refund directly with the merchant or go through the banking system by filing a dispute.
In the United Kingdom, in addition to card chargebacks, there is legal protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for credit purchases between £100 and £30,000, which can make the issuer jointly liable for breach of contract.
In the United States, the formal route is the Fair Credit Billing Act (Regulation Z §1026.13). You have 60 days after the statement to question charges, and the issuer must acknowledge receipt within 30 days and complete the investigation within two billing cycles (up to 90 days).
This is different from a card issuer chargeback, which is contractual and follows network deadlines. In the European Union, in addition to disputes with the bank, there is a 14-day right of withdrawal for distance contracts. It is a direct mechanism with the merchant. If the merchant does not inform the consumer of this right, the deadline can be extended to up to 12 months.
How Chargebacks Work
A chargeback is the process by which the issuing bank attempts to reverse the transaction with the merchant’s bank when there is non-delivery, a significant discrepancy, failure to provide the service, or merchant insolvency.
It is a mechanism of the card brands, not a right provided for by law. In general, the practical window is up to 120 days from the expected delivery date or the occurrence of the problem, varying according to the reason code.
This point helps to understand disputes in digital services and online entertainment. As more and more things are done online, it is very important to know these rules and the platform’s own policies.
Even if it is something as simple as opening a mobile game, when real-money bets are involved, you are still agreeing to how deposits, bonuses, and withdrawals will be treated. Crash-style casino titles are one of the formats that have gained popularity in recent years, with very fast rounds and the possibility of placing several small wagers in sequence.
When looking for a crash gambling game, in addition to evaluating reviews to find the best option in terms of variety and payment methods, reading the terms and conditions is essential to know your rights in case of any problems. From delayed credits to blocked access or disputed transactions, this will guide both your conversations with the operator and any eventual chargeback request with your bank.
If a credit has been charged but not delivered, if a digital item does not appear in your account, or if paid access is improperly blocked, it is worth documenting everything. Including receipts, screenshots, terms, conversations with support, and taking it to your bank. Recent decisions by the Financial Ombudsman reinforce that, under card rules, deposits for games have chargeback restrictions, and success depends on evidence of breach of contract.
In 2025, Visa consolidated dispute and fraud monitoring programmes in VAMP, with revised metrics and thresholds. Implementation began in Europe and impacts internal deadlines and evidence standards between acquirers and merchants.
Mastercard updated its Chargeback Guide with flows and codes, which also influences how issuers and merchants evaluate their cases. These adjustments do not create new rights, but they do change how the ecosystem processes disputes.
United Kingdom: When to use Section 75 and when to use chargeback
Section 75 is legal and covers credit purchases between £100 and £30,000, even when you have only paid part of the amount on your card. It requires a direct link between the debtor, creditor and supplier, and usually works well when there is substantial merchant failure.
The chargeback works for both debit and credit, but follows network rules. The official recommendation is to act quickly, as the issuer usually needs to initiate the process within 120 days. For future events, this is counted from the date on which the service was due to take place.
A trend for 2025 is the spread of Pay by Bank and Open Banking at checkout. It is useful and inexpensive for the retailer, but there is no Section 75 or chargeback. Protection falls under consumer legislation and the Payment Services Regulations, which make the path to reimbursement more difficult for high-value purchases or those with future delivery.
United States: FCBA (Reg Z) deadlines and procedure
In the US, the FCBA sets the time frame. You have 60 days after the first statement showing the error to notify the issuer, preferably in writing, at the address for billing inquiries. The bank must acknowledge receipt within 30 days and resolve the issue within 90 days.
This applies to undue charges, duplicate entries, goods not received, and services not provided. Card brand chargeback policies may also be used, but the FCBA is the legal basis. For digital subscriptions, transportation, and events, timing is crucial.
If the service will not be provided, gather proof of purchase, communications, and product or service conditions before contacting the issuer. Even when strong authentication has been applied, authorisation does not eliminate billing errors if the service was never delivered. This is precisely the scope of the FCBA.
European Union: 14-day cooling-off period and disputes with the bank
The EU guarantees consumers the right to a 14-day cooling-off period for distance contracts, counted from the receipt of the goods or the subscription to the service. If the retailer fails to inform the consumer of this right, the period may be extended to 12 months.
It is a mechanism with the merchant and does not exclude the use of chargeback if there is an unjustified refusal. With PSD2 and Strong Customer Authentication (SCA), there are liability shift scenarios in card-not-present transaction fraud.
When strong authentication is fulfilled, liability may shift within the ecosystem, which affects the analysis of disputes by banks and card brands. The European regulator and industry associations clarify when SCA is required and how this intersects with chargeback requests.
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