We're rolling out SIM return via InPost for long-term Crypton phone numbers, so when you're done with a dedicated-gateway rental, you can get the physical SIM card sent to a locker near you instead of losing it in the cloud.
Short version
- Who: Long-term numbers on our dedicated SMS gateway (physical SIM in our infrastructure).
- What: We ship your SIM to an InPost locker (Paczkomat or pickup point) in supported EU countries.
- Price: €25 flat shipping - same rate for all supported destinations.
- When: After voluntary cancellation, or within 14 days of expiry (instead of restoring SMS online).
- Where to manage it: Phone number settings, restore flow, and your inactive numbers list (track open or completed returns).
Why we built this
Long-term rentals use a real SIM in a dedicated gateway. Your number shows as the sender, which is great for business SMS, but it also means there's a physical card tied to your rental.
Until now, when a long-term number expired or you stopped service, the main options were:
- Restore digitally within the 14-day window (pay to turn SMS back on), or
- Let the number go, with no path to recover the physical SIM.
SIM return closes that gap. If you're moving on from Crypton SMS but still want the card, or you're abroad and prefer locker pickup over support tickets, you can request return in a few clicks.
How it works
Path A — Your number recently expired
Within 14 days of expiry you'll see a choice on the restore page:
| Option | What happens |
|---|---|
| Restore service | Pay to reactivate SMS on the same number (same as before). |
| Return SIM | Pay €25 shipping; we extract and ship the physical SIM to your InPost locker. Digital restore is no longer available for that number. |
Path B — Active long-term number
From number settings, you can request return at any time:
- Choose your delivery country (locker location).
- Pick a locker on the InPost map and enter its code and name.
- Add email and mobile — InPost sends the pickup PIN there (we only share what's needed for delivery).
- Pay €25 from account credits.
Your number is turned off immediately. Remaining prepaid time is not refunded; shipping is charged separately.
Supported delivery countries
Returns can be sent to InPost lockers in:
| 🇵🇱 Poland | 🇫🇷 France | 🇮🇹 Italy | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg |
Shipping is €25 to any of these countries — no separate “international” tier.
After you request
You'll land on a return status page with a simple progress tracker:
- Requested — payment received; ops queue notified
- Processing — SIM extracted from the gateway
- Shipped — tracking number added when available
- Delivered — ready for pickup at your locker
We email you at each step. You can also reopen the status page anytime from inactive numbers — View return status while it's in progress, View return history once delivered.
Pricing summary
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| SIM return shipping | €25 (flat) |
| Payment method | Account credits |
| Refund of unused rental time | No |
| Digital restore after voluntary return | No |
What this is not
- Short-term numbers don't include SIM return — they use shared gateway infrastructure without the same physical-card lifecycle.
- Virtual numbers have no physical SIM to ship.
- Return is not a refund of your rental — it's a logistics service to get the card back.
Restore or return?
| You want to… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Keep using the same number for SMS | Restore (within 14 days of expiry) |
| Stop SMS and get the physical SIM | Return SIM |
| Walk away with nothing | Do nothing — number stays archived |
You can't restore digitally while a return is in progress, and you can't request return twice for the same open shipment.
Getting started
- Log in and open Phone Numbers.
- For an expired long-term number → Restore page → Return SIM tab.
- For an active long-term number → Settings → Physical SIM return.
- Or browse long-term pricing on the homepage — SIM return is listed under physical number features.
Questions? Check the FAQ on the homepage (“Can I get my physical SIM card shipped back?”) or contact support.
— The Crypton team
