Protecting Your Wedding & Event Deposits (UK): s.75 and Your Rights
Direct answer
Use a credit card for at least part of every major booking. Consumer Credit Act 1974 s.75 makes your card issuer jointly liable with the supplier for breach or misrepresentation on any single item with a cash price over £100 up to £30,000 — and the FCA confirms even a £25 deposit paid on the card can bring the whole purchase within scope. Every service contract also carries the Consumer Rights Act 2015 s.49 implied term of reasonable care and skill. The one trap: paying through an intermediary (agent or platform) can break the debtor-creditor-supplier chain and void s.75 — pay the supplier directly.
The £25-on-the-card rule
You don't need to pay the whole £8,000 venue bill by credit card — s.75 attaches to the transaction, not the amount paid by card. A £25 deposit on the credit card, with the balance however you like, keeps the issuer jointly liable for the full contract (FCA's own worked position). Make it a habit: every supplier over £100, first payment on the credit card, paid to the supplier's own merchant account, with the contracting company's name matching the account you pay.
Assumptions
- s.75 needs a credit card (not debit; debit cards have only voluntary chargeback), a single item priced £100–£30,000, and a direct payment chain.
- Legal information, not legal advice — insolvency situations can need professional help.
What changes this answer
- Payment goes through a marketplace/agent — s.75 may not apply (FCA); ask who the contracting party is.
- Item price outside £100–£30,000 — outside s.75's bounds.
- Supplier insolvency vs simple breach — claims routes differ; card claim usually remains the fastest.
Common questions
Does paying a deposit by debit card protect me?
Not under s.75 — that requires a credit card. Debit cards rely on the voluntary chargeback scheme, which is weaker and time-limited. For bookings over £100, put at least the deposit on a credit card, paid directly to the supplier.
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk — Consumer Rights Act 2015 s.49 — tier 1, verified 2026-07-22
- legislation.gov.uk — Consumer Credit Act 1974 s.75 — tier 1, verified 2026-07-22
- FCA — s.75 application note (2021) — tier 1, verified 2026-07-22
Last checked 2026-07-22. Tiers: 1 government/regulator · 2 industry body · 3 official supplier docs · 4 large surveys · 5 professional material.
Legal information — not legal advice
Rules cited on this page apply to: UK. They were verified against the official sources listed above on 2026-07-22 and can change.Rules often differ by state, province, council or venue and depend on your event's specifics — confirm current requirements with the issuing authority before relying on them.