Claiming money back for a lost item purchased on a credit card

whirlgirl

Hi all

Got myself into a bit of a pickle and hoping I can get a bit of reassurance here...

I paid a substantial amount of money for a new mobile phone on Monday when I was out shopping in the city centre. Somewhere between leaving the shop and getting home (via public transport) I lost the carrier bag with the phone in. I suspect that I accidentally left the carrier bag at the bus stop in the city centre.

I've done everything I can think of to try and reclaim the phone. Retraced my steps and gone back to all the shops I went in. Called the police and reported it missing (they gave me a lost property reference number), tried talking to my phone provider but they weren't interested as I'm not insured with them. I called my house insurers this morning but personal belongings isn't specified on my policy either, so they're not going to help me (one thing this has taught me is to review my insurance priorities).

Someone suggested today that I try and claim the money back through my credit card provider. As I originally paid on my credit card they said that this should quite easily be done. I've been looking into it a bit, however, and have come across a lot about Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, as well as the article on Money Saving Expert about it....

My main concern is that although section 75 states that credit card companies should pay up if a company goes into liquidation or provides faulty goods, it doesn't say anything about the credit card holder simply losing their purchases! Obviously this is my fault entirely and i'm not going to start expecting the world from my credit card provider (HSBC Mastercard) as a result. However this person did also tell me that they once lost £200 worth of christmas shopping in a busy shopping centre and they were refunded all costs by their credit card company. I'm not sure if they did that under section 75, or whether their credit card company had an additional clause in their agreement which said they would do that.

Obviously it's worth a try and I will be calling them tomorrow. If they put up a fight, is it worth me quoting section 75 to them or is that not applicable at all to those who are silly and leave their shopping in public places?!

I'm not that great at stuff like this so any advice/reassurance would be most welcome

Thanks in advance

themull1

Ive never heard of claiming for a lost item via your credit card, have you got house insurance that would cover it?

jd87

You have no cover at all here, sorry. Section 75 covers failure by the retailer. Retailer is not at fault here.

Person who lost £200 of stuff and got it covered was either lucky, lied to them, lied to you or had some sort of insurance.

whirlgirl

I called my house insurers this morning but personal belongings isn't specified on my policy either, so they're not going to help me (one thing this has taught me is to review my insurance priorities).

As written above...but thanks

Wonkysplitdemon

Well I work for a card provider, and I can say with 95% certainty that you'll be liable for the balance. If you bought a packet of cigs on a CC for example, and then lost said packet, would you expect the credit card provider to let you off?

My gut feeling is your only hope would be appealing to their good nature... or suggest a partial settlement (half the balance?) and hope they agree.. but I wouldn't hold your breathe if im honest

Hope im wrong!

Wonky

whirlgirl

Thanks jd87. I doubt she lied to me (it was my sister), and lying to anyone else isn't in her nature. I suspect she just lucked out with the credit card provider. She didn't mention anything about section 75....I just uncovered that after doing a bit more digging. I didn't think that it would cover this instance, but thought I would double check...

madtrekker

I know that Barclaycard used to have some kind of cover for this type of mishap built in but I'm pretty sure it was a "bonus feature" rather than something built into the credit agreement as such.

They dropped this years ago.

Wonkysplitdemon

If you don't mind me asking, how much was the phone?

whirlgirl

I wouldn't wonkysplitdemon, but putting a claim in for a packet of cigarettes and a mobile phone is slightly different....I wouldn't have expected that the credit card company would be liable either, but i'm only looking into it because i've heard of an example today where it has worked....No comment re. appealing to HSBC's good nature

ETA. The phone was in the region of £300...another reason i'm doubtful they'll cover me

jd87

It's probably some sort of overpriced "lifestyle" insurance your sister got talked into having with her CC company, maybe when she called up to do a balance transfer or to activate the card. Obviously worked out for her, but normally best avoided.

Wonkysplitdemon

In the credit providers eyes there would be no difference. Whether you borrowed £50 for a phone or £10 for two packs of l&b. I understand its ridiculous to you and I, but were talking about a bank here