Section 75 Credit Card Protection

Matrixmainframe

It is the 18th December 2023 and I have just been on the moneysavingexpert.com webpage covering “Section 75 Refunds”. This article states that it was updated on 12 December 2023, so 6 days ago.

Unfortunately, I find a confusing issue in the table entitled “What is – and isn’t – covered by Section 75” in that in the section entitled “You’re covered by Section 75 if you…” it states that you are covered if you “used your credit card through Apple Pay / Google Pay”.

In the following section entitled “It’s a GREY AREA if you …” “Bought an item using Paypal or some other ‘modern’ payment types such as Google Wallet or Curve”.

In actual fact I have been using Google Wallet since it replaced Google Pay some time ago which no longer exists and Google Wallet, as far as I am aware, works in exactly the same way as Google Pay did.

So my question is this, can anyone explain why Google Wallet is a “Grey Area” and should I therefore cease using Google Wallet and use the actual Debit/Credit Cards instead to ensure I retain Section 75 and Chargeback protection.

Thanks

400ixl

Google wallet can do more than just Google Pay. If you just used the Google Pay feature then I would have thought you were covered. If you used some of the other Google Wallet features (probably unlikely) then maybe not.

For example I believe you can link your Paypal account to Google Wallet which would then mean an indirect relationship, where as a credit card from the bank would be a direct relationship.

DullGreyGuy

Matrixmainframe said:

It is the 18th December 2023 and I have just been on the moneysavingexpert.com webpage covering “Section 75 Refunds”. This article states that it was updated on 12 December 2023, so 6 days ago.

Unfortunately, I find a confusing issue in the table entitled “What is – and isn’t – covered by Section 75” in that in the section entitled “You’re covered by Section 75 if you…” it states that you are covered if you “used your credit card through Apple Pay / Google Pay”.

In the following section entitled “It’s a GREY AREA if you …” “Bought an item using Paypal or some other ‘modern’ payment types such as Google Wallet or Curve”.

In actual fact I have been using Google Wallet since it replaced Google Pay some time ago which no longer exists and Google Wallet, as far as I am aware, works in exactly the same way as Google Pay did.

So my question is this, can anyone explain why Google Wallet is a “Grey Area” and should I therefore cease using Google Wallet and use the actual Debit/Credit Cards instead to ensure I retain Section 75 and Chargeback protection.

Read https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DRN-4087602.pdf

It doesn't explicitly touch on ApplePay/ Google Wallet but talks about the original law, the court cases that have happened subsequently and explicitly PayPal.

The key thing with ApplePay is that Apple don't touch the money in any way shape or form... they provide some tech, your card issuer gives then a different card number for you to use when using that tech but the transaction is still fully between you, your card issuer and the supplier.

born_again

Matrixmainframe said:

It is the 18th December 2023 and I have just been on the moneysavingexpert.com webpage covering “Section 75 Refunds”. This article states that it was updated on 12 December 2023, so 6 days ago.

Unfortunately, I find a confusing issue in the table entitled “What is – and isn’t – covered by Section 75” in that in the section entitled “You’re covered by Section 75 if you…” it states that you are covered if you “used your credit card through Apple Pay / Google Pay”.

In the following section entitled “It’s a GREY AREA if you …” “Bought an item using Paypal or some other ‘modern’ payment types such as Google Wallet or Curve”.

In actual fact I have been using Google Wallet since it replaced Google Pay some time ago which no longer exists and Google Wallet, as far as I am aware, works in exactly the same way as Google Pay did.

So my question is this, can anyone explain why Google Wallet is a “Grey Area” and should I therefore cease using Google Wallet and use the actual Debit/Credit Cards instead to ensure I retain Section 75 and Chargeback protection.

Thanks

Best bet speak to your card issuer.

PayPal is totally different to Google or Apple pay systems.

DullGreyGuy

born_again said:

Matrixmainframe said:

It is the 18th December 2023 and I have just been on the moneysavingexpert.com webpage covering “Section 75 Refunds”. This article states that it was updated on 12 December 2023, so 6 days ago.

Unfortunately, I find a confusing issue in the table entitled “What is – and isn’t – covered by Section 75” in that in the section entitled “You’re covered by Section 75 if you…” it states that you are covered if you “used your credit card through Apple Pay / Google Pay”.

In the following section entitled “It’s a GREY AREA if you …” “Bought an item using Paypal or some other ‘modern’ payment types such as Google Wallet or Curve”.

In actual fact I have been using Google Wallet since it replaced Google Pay some time ago which no longer exists and Google Wallet, as far as I am aware, works in exactly the same way as Google Pay did.

So my question is this, can anyone explain why Google Wallet is a “Grey Area” and should I therefore cease using Google Wallet and use the actual Debit/Credit Cards instead to ensure I retain Section 75 and Chargeback protection.

Thanks

Best bet speak to your card issuer.

I'd certainly say that depends on who your card issuer is... seems to be a lot more upheld S75 complaints against a few providers than other household names. Maybe I am just getting the ratio of card issuers wrong but I'd be surprised. 

eskbanker

Matrixmainframe said:

It is the 18th December 2023 and I have just been on the moneysavingexpert.com webpage covering “Section 75 Refunds”. This article states that it was updated on 12 December 2023, so 6 days ago.

Unfortunately, I find a confusing issue in the table entitled “What is – and isn’t – covered by Section 75” in that in the section entitled “You’re covered by Section 75 if you…” it states that you are covered if you “used your credit card through Apple Pay / Google Pay”.

In the following section entitled “It’s a GREY AREA if you …” “Bought an item using Paypal or some other ‘modern’ payment types such as Google Wallet or Curve”.

In actual fact I have been using Google Wallet since it replaced Google Pay some time ago which no longer exists and Google Wallet, as far as I am aware, works in exactly the same way as Google Pay did.

So my question is this, can anyone explain why Google Wallet is a “Grey Area” and should I therefore cease using Google Wallet and use the actual Debit/Credit Cards instead to ensure I retain Section 75 and Chargeback protection.

Immediately after the bit you quoted, the main MSE S75 article goes on to say "Take a look at our full PayPal & Section 75 guide", where there is a more detailed discussion, which answers your question:

Google Wallet vs Google Pay. Like with PayPal, if you top up your Google Wallet and use the funds to purchase something, you WON'T be covered by Section 75, but if you simply use your credit card through Google Pay, you WILL be protected. Similarly, card transactions made through Apple Pay are viewed by card issuers and banks as the same as if you'd used the physical card to pay directly.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/PayPal-Section75/

Granted, it would be better if they updated the reference to Google Pay, but the key aspect is whether a separate balance is held within any third party service, rather than simply passing transactions through....

born_again

Google wallet is a wrapper for Google pay. Just like it stores all your loyalty cards, tickets etc.

I've made a payment via card set up in Google Wallet & the message after payment said Google Pay £xx to retailer. Looking on Bank app it lists Google Pay & last 4 digits of card used.

DullGreyGuy

born_again said:

Looking on Bank app it lists Google Pay & last 4 digits of card used.

Thats certainly different to ApplePay, there is no reference to the fact the card was used via ApplePay in any of the banking apps that we use, just shows the merchant in the same way as if you'd used the physical card. Given it has a different card number then clearly the bank knows its via their system but Lloyds, NatWest, Starling, Virgin, Barclays nor AmEx highlight it.