Can I get a partial refund on an unused eSIM?

Partial refunds aren't typical for eSIM plans because the validity timer starts at first activation and runs continuously. Once you've activated, the plan is consumed regardless of how much data you actually used. Full refunds are available within 14 days of purchase if the eSIM has NOT been activated. After activation, refunds are generally not available except in specific cases (technical failure on our end, plan didn't work in the country we promised, etc.). If you're unsure whether your situation qualifies, email support@eflexsim.com before activating.

Below: when refunds apply, when partial refunds do apply, and the specific cases worth checking on.

The default refund rules

Eflexsim's standard refund policy in plain terms:

• Unactivated within 14 days of purchase: full refund available.
• Activated: generally non-refundable, with exceptions for technical failures.
• Plan expired: non-refundable.

The 14-day pre-activation refund window is generous compared to most eSIM resellers (some don't allow refunds at all). For full details see refund policy.

When partial refunds apply

A few specific scenarios where partial refunds are possible:

1. Technical failure on our end shortened your plan.

If the eSIM stopped working partway through the validity period because of a confirmed technical issue (our partner network outage, provisioning error, etc.), we may refund the unused portion proportionally.

Example: You bought a 10 GB / 15-day plan. On day 5, our partner network had a confirmed outage and your eSIM stopped working for 2 days. You had used about 4 GB. A partial refund for the disruption is reasonable and we'd issue it after support investigation.

2. Plan didn't work in the country we promised.

If you arrived in the destination and the eSIM never connected (and after support troubleshooting we confirm the issue was on our end, not phone settings), a full or substantial partial refund applies. The exact amount depends on whether you used the plan elsewhere first.

3. Trip canceled or shortened due to airline / visa / health.

In genuine hardship cases (canceled flight with no replacement, denied entry, medical emergency), email support@eflexsim.com with documentation. We evaluate case-by-case. Partial refunds in this category aren't a stated policy, but we treat such cases with judgment.

When partial refunds don't apply

The most common cases where customers ask for partial refunds but they don't apply:

1. You used less data than the plan allowed.

eSIM plans are paid for upfront, not metered. If you bought 10 GB and only used 4, the unused 6 GB doesn't generate a refund. This works like any prepaid plan: you bought capacity, you got it, regardless of usage.

2. You bought too much data and want to downgrade.

Same as above. Plans aren't dynamically resizable mid-period. The right move is to buy the smaller plan size next time. For sizing help see how much data do I actually need for my trip.

3. Your trip ended early and you have days left.

The validity timer doesn't pause when you go home. If you bought a 30-day plan and your trip ended after 10 days, the remaining 20 days are still consumed. No partial refund for the unused days.

4. You activated by mistake and didn't use it.

Activation typically triggers when your phone first connects to the partner network in the destination country (or for some plans, on a fixed activation date you chose). Once activated, the plan is consumed even if you used 0 MB. This is why we recommend activating only when you arrive at your destination. See when to activate.

5. You forgot you had it and the validity expired.

Expired plans are non-refundable. The plan operated as sold; you simply didn't use it.

6. You bought the wrong country.

If you bought a Spain plan but arrived in Portugal, the Spain plan won't work. Before activating, contact support — we may be able to refund the unused Spain plan so you can buy the right country. If you've already activated and consumed any data, this gets harder. Pre-activation contact is the key.

The "didn't use it but trip changed" case

This is the most common situation customers want a partial refund for. The technical answer is: if you didn't activate the eSIM, you can get a full refund within 14 days of purchase regardless of why your trip changed. If you activated and then plans changed, refund availability drops significantly.

The takeaway: don't activate until you arrive at your destination. This preserves your refund eligibility right up until the last minute.

How partial refund amounts are calculated

When a partial refund does apply (most often for technical failure or country mismatch), we calculate it based on:

• Days remaining when the issue occurred.
• Data remaining at that point.
• Whether the plan worked anywhere else in the meantime.

A typical calculation: if you had a 15-day plan, it stopped working on day 5, and you'd used 30% of your data, we might refund somewhere between 40-60% of the plan price. The exact figure depends on the specifics.

Partial refunds are issued the same way as full refunds: to the original payment method, processing time as described in how long does a refund take.

How to request a refund (full or partial)

The path:

1. Email support@eflexsim.com with your order number and a brief description of what happened.
2. Include any relevant evidence (screenshots showing the eSIM not working, error messages, flight cancellation document, etc.).
3. We review and reply within our 4-hour business-hours SLA.
4. If approved, the refund is issued the same business day.

For business hours and full refund mechanics, see the policy page.

Alternatives to a refund

When a refund isn't available but the trip changed, two alternatives often work:

1. Wallet credit. We can convert the value to account credit usable for any future Eflexsim purchase. Doesn't expire as fast as a cash refund and is instant.

2. Re-issue for a different country. If the trip moved from Spain to Portugal, in some cases we can void the Spain plan and credit the value toward a Portugal plan. Works best if neither has been activated.

Both options need to happen before activation. Email support before doing anything in your phone's Settings.

Frequently asked questions

QCan I get a refund if I only used half my data?

No. Plans are paid for upfront. Unused data doesn't generate a refund.

QWhat if the plan stopped working because of my phone, not yours?

Phone issues (incompatible model, wrong settings, accidental delete) generally aren't refund-eligible because the plan operated as sold. We can help troubleshoot to get you back online.

QWhat if my flight was canceled and I never made the trip?

If the eSIM wasn't activated and you're within 14 days of purchase, full refund. If activated, contact support with documentation; case-by-case evaluation.

QCan I transfer the unused eSIM to a friend?

Not directly. eSIMs are tied to the phone they were installed on. If you haven't installed it yet, in some cases we can re-issue the activation code to a different account. Email support.

QWhat if the plan worked but at much slower speeds than advertised?

This depends on cause. If it's our partner network having a confirmed issue, partial refund may apply. If it's local congestion or weak signal at your specific location, generally no refund applies because the service operated as sold.

QIs a partial refund taxable?

No, refunds reverse the original transaction. Tax treatment follows the refund logic of your local tax authority. See are taxes and VAT included.

For full refund policy, see refund policy. For wallet credit alternative, see using account credit and wallet balance. For activation timing, see when to activate.