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For the last 12 years there has been a dispute between the Office of Fair Trading and the credit card industry about card protection abroad.

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act specifies that credit card providers have to "stand in the shoes of the supplier". If goods are faulty, fail to arrive or are not as described, then the credit card company as the provider of credit can be pursued to rectify the transaction.

The card industry had argued that it would be unfair to extend this rule to goods bought abroad. They argued that different rules apply when you purchase something abroad, and that there is a higher degree of risk when shipping items from abroad.

But despite their arguments, the judges ruled that all credit card companies will be responsible for any products purchased by consumers abroad when using their credit cards in the UK.