Buying flights with VISA card

pimento

I've just come off the phone to my bank to ask about having my credit card limit temporarily raised so I can buy my flights on VISA to get the protection it offers.

I have no balance on it at the moment (pay it off every month) and have deliberately refused every offer to raise my credit limit (eventually telling the bank not to offer) so it has been £3k since I got the card several years ago.

I asked if it would be possible to temporarily raise the limit to enable me to buy the flights and then I would transfer the money from my savings account to my credit card straight away.

The woman at the bank said it would be easier if I just paid for the flights using my VISA debit card because if offered almost the same protection.

Is she correct? Or should I push for a temporary limit increase? Or can I just pay a few £00's on my credit card and the rest on my debit and still be covered?

The increase I would need would temporarily double my credit limit from £3k to £6k but I do have the funds to cover.

What should I do?

Thanks

CLAPTON

with credit cards the protection is statutory

visa debit cards do offer protection but it is not statutory

you only need to pay part of the costs by CCs to gain section 75 protection (£100 or more)

Norfolk_Jim

pay a pound with your cc and the rest by debit card if the airline will wear it and you'll still be covered. Make sure you buy direct from the airline and not a third party like a travel agent as the protection would not apply in that circumstance. Section 75 applies to most purchases over 100 but even 1 pound paid with a cc on a 101 purchase will be covered under section 75

pimento

Norfolk_Jim wrote: »

Make sure you buy direct from the airline and not a third party like a travel agent as the protection would not apply in that circumstance. Section 75 applies to most purchases over 100 but even 1 pound paid with a cc on a 101 purchase will be covered under section 75

Oof! That's a bug5er, it's £900 more expensive direct from the airline.

Why am I not protected if I buy from a travel agent?

SuperHan

Because there's a third party - Section 75 applies when it is consumer>credit card company>retailer only, not when there is someone providing services on someone else's behalf - like a travel agent.

Make sure your travel agent is ATOL protected, this should offer the protection you need.

pimento

SuperHan wrote: »

Make sure your travel agent is ATOL protected, this should offer the protection you need.

Thanks SuperHan. Does TTA also offer the same protection?

Paranoid? Moi?

CLAPTON

Norfolk_Jim wrote: »

pay a pound with your cc and the rest by debit card if the airline will wear it and you'll still be covered. Make sure you buy direct from the airline and not a third party like a travel agent as the protection would not apply in that circumstance. Section 75 applies to most purchases over 100 but even 1 pound paid with a cc on a 101 purchase will be covered under section 75

a bit confused

does section75 protection require a minimum of £1 or a minimum of £100?

reclusive46

CLAPTON wrote: »

a bit confused

does section75 protection require a minimum of £1 or a minimum of £100?

Section 75 is £100 and the Visa Chargeback program is any amount I believe.

bigadaj

CLAPTON wrote: »

a bit confused

does section75 protection require a minimum of £1 or a minimum of £100?

See what you mean, the purchase must be over£100 but any part of it paid by cc means it is covered. I actually think this is somewhat unfair to the cc provider, as they are taking on the liability without the benefit of the whole trisection, however that seems to be the rule.

luci

Just to clarify. You can pay a minimal amount on a credit card and provider the purchase is between £100 and £30,000 then it is covered under Section 75.

As above, there has to be a direct relationship between the purchaser and the provider, ie not via a travel agent.

Purchases on a Visa debit card are covered by Visa Chargeback if your card holder is part of the scheme, but this isn't a guaranteed service like Section 75.

pimento

If I pay by VISA debit and buy from a travel agent and they don't supply the ticket, I can do a VISA chargeback or not?

I'll admit, I'm confused. ATOL says I'm only covered if it's a flight and a hotel.