Debit card chargeback rights

Yes, you can use chargeback on a debit card purchase. Here is the position:

What chargeback is:

Chargeback is not a statutory right but a process operated by the card scheme (Visa or Mastercard) under their own rules. It allows your bank to reverse a payment made by debit card in certain circumstances. It applies to both credit and debit cards, though for credit cards you may also have the separate statutory protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (which does not apply to debit cards).

When you can use it:

Common grounds for a debit card chargeback include goods or services not received, goods not as described, duplicate transactions, unauthorised transactions, and where a merchant has ceased trading before delivering what was paid for.

Time limits:

The card scheme rules generally allow a chargeback claim to be raised within 120 days from the date you became aware of the problem (for example, from the expected delivery date or the date you noticed the defect). There is usually an outer time limit of 540 days from the transaction date, though exact deadlines vary depending on the reason code and the card scheme involved.

How to use it:

1. Contact your bank (the card issuer) and explain the situation.
2. Provide evidence supporting your claim, such as correspondence with the merchant, proof of non-delivery, or evidence that goods were faulty or not as described.
3. Your bank will assess the claim and, if appropriate, raise it with the merchant's bank under the card scheme rules.

Important points:

Your bank is not obliged to raise a chargeback. It is a discretionary process. However, banks are expected to treat customers fairly under FCA rules, and if you have a valid basis for a chargeback they should pursue it.

It is generally sensible to try to resolve the dispute with the merchant first, as your bank will usually ask whether you have done so.

If your bank refuses to raise a chargeback and you believe it should have done, you can complain to the bank and, if not resolved, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Practical note:

Chargeback is often quicker and simpler than court action and costs you nothing directly. It is usually the first step worth trying for debit card disputes, particularly where the amount is relatively modest or where the merchant is unresponsive or based overseas.

If you can give me more detail about the situation, I can advise on the strength of the claim and the best approach.