What happens when a code doesn't arrive (and why you're not charged)

Sometimes a rented number just doesn't get a code — the destination service rejects the number, the upstream SMS route has a bad day, or the timing just doesn't line up inside the rental window. It happens, and DiceSMS is built around that being a normal outcome, not an exception that needs a support ticket.

What actually happens

Your wallet is never charged for a short-term rental unless a code is actually received. When a rental window closes with nothing delivered, the reservation simply expires — no deduction, no manual refund request needed, no back-and-forth with support.

Why this matters more than it sounds

It means the economics of trying a rental are asymmetric in your favor: the downside of "it didn't work" is zero cost, while the upside of "it worked" is exactly the price you saw upfront. That's a deliberate design choice, not a policy exception.

The one case this doesn't cover

Long-Term Rentals bill daily for keeping a number reserved, independent of any single code — because the value there is the reservation itself, not one delivery event. See our LTR vs. short-term guide for the distinction.