Looking for the Lloyds dispute time limit? Here's the honest answer first: Lloyds doesn't publish a single fixed deadline. Your dispute runs through one of two routes — a chargeback through the card network, or a Section 75 claim under UK consumer law — and each has its own clock. Once you know which route applies, the deadline becomes clear.
Lloyds itself has encouraged customers to remember their chargeback rights: when a purchase is made on a debit or credit card and the item doesn't arrive or isn't as described, a chargeback claim can be considered by the bank — within about 120 days of either the transaction date or the delivery date. But if you paid by credit card and the purchase cost between £100 and £30,000, Section 75 can give you up to six years. Here's how both work at Lloyds, and how to file.
Before anything else, work out which route your problem falls under:
Debit card purchase? You're on the chargeback route. Credit card purchase over £100 where the retailer broke the contract? You may have both routes available — and Section 75 is a legal right, not a voluntary scheme.
The key number at Lloyds is 120 days from the transaction date — or from the delivery date, if one was given. That's the window Lloyds has highlighted when urging shoppers to use their chargeback rights, and it matches the card-network rules behind it.
There are also minimum waiting times before a claim can begin. If the purchase was made on a Visa card, a claim can generally be started once the transaction has settled — for some dispute types, not until at least 15 days after the transaction. If it was on a Mastercard, there's typically a minimum wait of around 30 days after the transaction date. These waits exist because the network expects the goods to have had a chance to arrive — filing too early can get your claim bounced back.
For goods or services expected in the future — flights, holidays, event tickets — the clock generally runs from the expected delivery or performance date rather than the day you paid. The practical takeaway: start preparing early, but don't file before the network's minimum wait has passed.
If you suspect fraud rather than a merchant dispute, contact Lloyds immediately regardless of these windows — unauthorized transactions are handled under a different, faster process.
If you paid with a Lloyds credit card, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 may be your strongest option — especially if the 120-day chargeback window has already closed. The key conditions:
Note the nuance: Section 75 doesn't cover Lloyds debit card purchases, or cash withdrawals. Read our full breakdown in UK Section 75 time limits and the comparison chargeback vs Section 75.
Before starting a claim, first try to resolve the problem directly with the seller — this is the step Lloyds themselves emphasize. If the seller is unresponsive or refuses to help, get in touch with the bank. Your options:
If you don't recognize the transaction at all, first look for more details in the app — check the retailer's trading name, ask anyone else on the account, and rule out subscription charges or free trials that have expired — before reporting it.
Lloyds' position is clear: banks can only request the return of funds after a customer has raised a chargeback, so the strength of your claim depends on the evidence you provide. Gather these before you file:
Enter your transaction date and we'll tell you how much time is likely left on the chargeback clock.
Lloyds investigates your claim and requests the money back from the seller's bank. The full chargeback process can take a few months depending on the dispute type and the merchant's response. Lloyds should keep you updated on the outcome.
If the dispute is decided against you, don't necessarily stop at the first "no" — ask Lloyds to review the decision, and check why it was rejected. If the rejection was about timing, confirm which deadline was applied against your actual transaction and delivery dates. If you remain unhappy, make a formal complaint: once Lloyds issues a final response you disagree with — or if 8 weeks pass without resolution — you can escalate for free to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Lloyds does not publish one fixed deadline. Most disputes run on the card-network window — generally up to about 120 days from the transaction date or the expected delivery date. Separately, UK credit-card purchases of £100–£30,000 can be claimed under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, typically within 6 years.
Lloyds describes requesting a chargeback through its mobile app as a quick and straightforward way to raise a claim. Before starting, first try to resolve the problem directly with the seller — if the seller is unresponsive or refuses to help, then raise the chargeback with Lloyds.
For Visa cards, a claim can generally be started once the transaction has settled — and at least 15 days after the transaction for some dispute types. For Mastercard, there is typically a minimum wait of around 30 days after the transaction date before a claim can begin.
No. Section 75 applies to credit cards only — and only where the item or service cost £100–£30,000 and you paid the seller directly. Debit card purchases are not covered, but you may still have the chargeback route through the card network.
Ask Lloyds to reconsider and make a formal complaint if needed. If you receive a final response you disagree with — or if 8 weeks pass without resolution — you can escalate for free to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
