What happens to my remaining data and minutes when I cancel?

Any unused minutes, texts or data are **lost at plan expiry**, Lebara explicitly states allowances are not carried over to the following month. You can still use them up until the expiry date, so timing your cancellation late in the cycle squeezes maximum value. Pay-as-you-go credit (separate from plan allowances) survives for up to 90 days after the plan expires, after which it's forfeited unless you've requested a refund.

Lebara keeps charging me after I cancelled, what do I do?

Check MyLebara that auto-renew is genuinely **off** for the right number (multi-line accounts cancel per number). If charges continue, email **care@lebara-mobile.co.uk** with the dates and amounts, and request both a refund and a complaint reference. If unresolved within **8 weeks** (or after a final position letter), Lebara is a member of the **Communications Ombudsman**, the Ofcom-approved ADR scheme, free to escalate. UK card users can also raise a chargeback through their bank.

Can I pause my Lebara plan instead of cancelling?

Lebara doesn't offer a formal pause, but the closest equivalent is to **toggle off auto-renew** and stop topping up. The SIM remains active for 90 days from the last chargeable use, so you can still receive calls/SMS during a short break (e.g. travel) and resume by re-enabling auto-renew before the 90-day window closes. After 90 days without activity any Pre-Pay credit is forfeited, and after 365 days the SIM is deactivated.

How do I cancel Lebara if I'm on the 12-month plan?

You can give notice at any time, but inside the **Minimum Commitment Term** you'll be billed an early-termination charge equal to the monthly price × the number of months remaining (less VAT). The cheapest way out is usually to **run the plan to month 12, then disable auto-renew** before the next renewal date. Contact Customer Services on **5588** for the exact exit charge, or downgrade to a rolling plan partway through if available.

How long does Lebara take to process a refund?

Lebara doesn't publish a fixed timeframe, but in practice refunds of Pre-Pay credit or the 14-day plan refund are credited back to your Lebara balance or original payment method within a few working days once Customer Services confirms eligibility. Email responses can take **5 to 7 working days** according to consumer-review sites, so chat or 5588 is faster. Always quote your Lebara number, transaction date and amount to avoid back-and-forth delays.

What if Lebara ignores my cancellation request?

Lebara's complaints code requires escalation first to a team leader, then to the country team. If you have a deadlock letter or 8 weeks have passed without resolution, refer the case **free of charge** to the **Communications Ombudsman**, the independent ADR scheme approved by Ofcom. Keep written evidence (emails, chat transcripts, screenshots of the MyLebara auto-renew toggle) and, if you paid by credit card, lodge a Section 75 claim or chargeback in parallel.

REFUND GUIDE

How to Get a Lebara Mobile Refund.

Q: Can I get a refund from Lebara?

Yes, in two scenarios. (1) If you bought a SIM or plan and haven't used any allowance, request a refund within **14 days**, the cost goes back to your balance. (2) Any **Pre-Pay credit** on your account can be refunded on request for up to **180 days** after the last chargeable use. Returned physical SIMs must still be on the original holder. Refunds for handsets purchased from Lebara also follow the 14-day window in original packaging.

Inside 14 days their own policy is on your side; statutory cooling-off rights may stack on top. Outside it, you've still got tools, a clear email, a card-issuer chargeback, the lot. Here's the playbook for Lebara Mobile.

Last verified 15 Jun 2026 against Lebara Mobile’s own Terms · UK, US, and EU rights covered below

The short answer

Lebara offers two refund routes. First, an unused SIM card or plan can be returned within 14 days of purchase for a refund, the SIM must still be on the original holder. Second, credit on a Pre-Pay account can be refunded on request for up to 180 days after the last chargeable use. If you cancel a 30-day plan after using any allowance, no pro-rata refund is given, your service simply runs to the end of the paid month.

Or let yoink chase the refund.

30 seconds to set up. yoink emails Lebara Mobile, cites the policy, escalates if ignored, and surfaces the win when the money lands.

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What Lebara Mobile actually says

“If your Pre-Pay Account is in credit, you are entitled to a refund of any money which has been paid into your Account. Any such refund is available at your request within 180 Days after the last call or chargeable use of your Lebara SIM Card as shown on your Account records as held by us.”
, verbatim from Lebara Mobile’s terms

14-day cancellation windowPro-rata refund: noStatutory cooling-off: 14 days in UK + EU on new subs

How long does a Lebara Mobile refund take?

Most merchants agree to a straightforward refund within 1 to 3 working days of a well-written email request. Once agreed, the money itself takes another 3 to 5 working days to land, that part is card-network processing and no merchant can skip it. If nothing has arrived 10 working days after a written “refund approved”, reply on the same thread asking for the ARN (acquirer reference number), which your bank can trace.

Note Lebara Mobile’s own policy works on a 14-day window, ask inside it and the request is routine; outside it you’re relying on goodwill or statutory rights.

What you can claim

The law where you live is the strongest hook, lead with it when you contact the company.

United Kingdom

Section 75, Consumer Credit Act
Credit card issuer is jointly liable. £100-£30,000.
For UK credit-card charges between £100 and £30,000, your card issuer is jointly liable with Lebara Mobile for any breach. Call your bank, say “Section 75 claim”, send evidence. Usually resolved in 2-4 weeks.
Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013
Full refund within the 14-day window.
Inside 14 days of starting any Lebara Mobile subscription, you’re entitled to a full refund of any payment taken, no questions, no policy override.
Citizens Advice + Trading Standards
For repeated bad-faith refusals.
Free escalation lane: file with Citizens Advice (08082231133), they pass it to Trading Standards. Slow (8-12 weeks) but creates a paper trail Lebara Mobile can’t ignore.

Worldwide

Card-issuer chargeback
Visa/Mastercard chargeback works everywhere they do.
Open a chargeback for “subscription not cancelled” or “services not as described”, your bank initiates, Lebara Mobile has ~45 days to defend. Works regardless of where Lebara Mobile is headquartered.
PayPal Buyer Protection
If you paid via PayPal, open a dispute.
PayPal’s Buyer Protection covers “item not as described”, applies to services that didn’t deliver. Resolution typically within 20 days.

Rights in other regions (United States, European Union)

United States

Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA)
Dispute any credit-card charge in writing within 60 days.
For US credit-card payments, the FCBA gives you 60 days from the statement date to dispute a Lebara Mobile charge in writing. Your card issuer is required to investigate and may withhold the disputed amount during the process.

European Union

Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU
14-day withdrawal across all EU member states.
EU-wide statutory right to withdraw and recover any payment within 14 days of subscription start. Mirrored in local law in every EU country.
ECC-Net cross-border escalation
EU Consumer Centre network mediates against EU sellers.
If Lebara Mobile is based in another EU country, your local European Consumer Centre will mediate the dispute for free. List of national contacts at commission.europa.eu.

The 4-step refund email

Email the right address
Use care@lebara-mobile.co.uk, the route yoink has verified actually gets read for Lebara Mobile.
Use a clear subject line
Subject: Refund Request, [your account email]

Send this body

Hi Lebara Mobile team,

I'm requesting a refund of the recent charge on my subscription, account [your account email].

Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, I'm entitled to cancel this contract by notice through the same channel it was formed in. Please confirm by reply that the refund will be processed to my original payment method.

Best,
[your name]

Wait 7-14 days, then escalate
If you haven’t heard back in 14 days, escalate via the regional route above, a card-issuer chargeback works in every market.

Refund FAQ for Lebara Mobile

On 30-day rolling SIM-only plans there's **no cancellation fee**, they're no-contract. On the **12-month SIM Only**, Clause 14.2 of the T&Cs charges an early-termination fee equal to the monthly plan price × the number of remaining months (including part-months), minus VAT and any costs Lebara avoids. There are no hidden admin fees, but you must pay any unbilled usage outside your allowance before the account closes.

Cancelling rather than claiming money back? See the Lebara Mobile cancellation guide. For every other support channel, the Lebara Mobile contact guide.