How do I get a refund for unused LLM API credits?
Typical refund policies
OpenAI's policy generally states that prepaid credits are non-refundable, but they may issue refunds in cases of accidental purchase or technical issues. Anthropic and others have similar stances. Always review the terms of service you agreed to.
If you purchased through a reseller or cloud marketplace (e.g., AWS, Azure), the refund process may go through that platform, which can have different rules.
How to request a refund
Contact support through your provider's help center or email. Be polite, explain why you have unused credits (e.g., project cancelled, accidental purchase), and ask if a refund or credit transfer is possible. Include your account ID and purchase details.
If the first agent declines, you can ask for a supervisor or escalate. Some providers may offer a partial refund or convert credits to a different service. Success varies widely.
- Check the terms of service for refund policy
- Gather purchase receipts and account info
- Contact support via official channels
- Be clear and concise about the reason
- Ask for escalation if initially denied
- Consider small claims court only for large amounts (rare)
If refunds aren't possible
You can sometimes transfer credits to another account or use them for a different project. Some providers allow you to gift credits to another user. If not, you may have to write them off.
To avoid this in the future, buy credits in smaller increments and set spending limits. Only prepay what you're confident you'll use within the credit's validity period.
Common mistakes
- Assuming you can get a refund just because you didn't use the credits.
- Not reading the terms of service before purchasing credits.
- Waiting too long to request a refund—some policies have time limits.
