We know waiting for a refund after canceling a ticket can be stressful, especially when you’re traveling on a timeline. Refunds are usually processed within 5–10 business days, but the exact timing depends on the operator, your payment method, and your bank’s processing speed.
Understanding Refund Timelines
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Credit Card: Refunds usually take 3–5 business days to appear, excluding your bank’s processing time.
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Debit Card: Refunds can take longer and may only appear on your account in the next billing cycle, depending on your bank.
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PayPal: Refunds typically appear within 1–2 business days in your PayPal account.
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Direct Bank Transfer (iDEAL, Sofort, etc.): Refunds can take up to 15 business days to appear in your account.
Please note: If you cancel your booking, Busbud first has to wait for the travel operator to reimburse us before we can issue your refund.
Common Reasons for Delays
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Operator approval or processing delays (especially during peak travel seasons).
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Bank or payment provider clearing times, which vary by institution.
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Refunds on debit cards may be held until your bank’s next billing cycle.
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International cards or alternative payment methods may take longer.
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Occasional technical or communication issues between Busbud, operators, and payment providers.
Steps to Take if Your Refund Is Delayed
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Double-check your refund confirmation email for timelines specific to your booking.
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Review your bank, debit card, or PayPal account to ensure the refund hasn’t already arrived — sometimes it appears under a different reference.
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Allow the full 5–10 business days (or up to 15 for some payment methods), as weekends and holidays may extend the process.
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If the deadline has passed and you still haven’t received your refund, contact Busbud Support with your booking reference for personalized assistance.
Important to Know
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Refunds are always issued to the same payment method you used when booking. For security reasons, we cannot send the refund to a different card or account.
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Please do not file a dispute with your credit card company or PayPal while your refund request is still pending. Once a dispute is filed, Busbud cannot issue the refund until the dispute process clears, which can take significantly longer.
Need Help?
If your refund has not arrived after the expected timeframe, our team is here to help. You can reach Busbud Support by submitting a request through our Help Center or by replying directly to your booking confirmation email. Please include your booking reference to speed up resolution.
Still have a question?
Just drop us a line here. Our expert team will get back to you.
Happy travels!