Order lifecycle and billing
An order goes from PENDING to RECEIVED when the SMS arrives, then to FINISHED. Without an SMS it ends as CANCELED or TIMEOUT and the frozen amount comes back.
When is my balance charged?
Only when an SMS arrives. Buying a number freezes its price on your balance. The charge happens when the order turns RECEIVED. If the order is cancelled, times out or is returned without an SMS, the frozen amount is released automatically.
Order statuses
| Status | Meaning | Balance |
|---|---|---|
| PENDING | Number issued, waiting for the SMS | Price frozen, not charged |
| RECEIVED | SMS arrived, the code is in messages | Charged |
| FINISHED | You closed the activation | Charged if an SMS arrived, released otherwise |
| CANCELED | Cancelled before any SMS | Released |
| TIMEOUT | Expired without an SMS | Released |
| BANNED | Returned as already used by the app | Released when no SMS was received |
Timing rules
- A number stays reserved for up to 20 minutes. The expires field gives the exact time in UTC.
- Poll GET /v1/orders/{id} every 3 to 5 seconds. If nothing arrives within about 2 minutes, cancel and try another country or server.
- On server 1, cancel and ban are accepted about 2 minutes after purchase. Earlier calls return 400 with Wait about 2 minutes and try again.
- Cancel works only while no SMS has arrived. After the SMS, use finish.
Another SMS on the same number
Some apps send a second code, for example when you log in again. Call resend after the first code arrived and while the order is still RECEIVED and not expired. It costs nothing extra: awaiting_resend turns true and the new message is appended to messages.
When the app rejects the number
If the app says the number is already registered or blocked, call ban. The number is returned, and when no SMS was received the frozen amount is released. Then buy a new number, ideally from another country or server.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I never call finish?
Nothing bad. An order that received the SMS stays charged; the activation simply closes when the number expires.
Can I get a refund after the SMS arrived?
No. Once the code is delivered the activation is complete and charged. Refunds apply only to orders that end without an SMS.