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Get every penny back

We know that sometimes things beyond your control can mean your trip gets cancelled. If you bought your travel money from Post Office and find yourself in this situation, you can rest easy knowing you’ll get every penny back.

How refunds work

Foreign currency refunds

How to get your refund for travel cash

Step 1: pop into branch with your currency

Head to your nearest branch that trades foreign currency and bring:

  • The currency you bought from us
  • The receipt we gave you at the time

We’ll buy back your currency at that day’s rate and give you a buyback receipt.

Step 2: send us your receipts and proof of cancellation

Post the following documents or email a photo/scan of them to us:

  • Your original purchase receipt
  • Your buyback receipt
  • Proof of your trip’s cancellation

Post to: FREEPOST, POST OFFICE, CUSTOMER CARE

Or email: customercare@postoffice.co.uk

Step 3: we’ll send you the difference

We’ll process your request and send a Payout letter for the difference between your buyback and initial purchase rates.

Travel Money Card refunds

Travel Money Card purchases are all done electronically, so you need to follow a different process to claim a refund on your card. Just call the number printed on the back of it and we’ll take you through it.

Step 1: call the number on the back of your card

Give us a call to let us know your trip has been cancelled and that you’d like a refund of your travel money purchase.

Step 2: give us your account details and we’ll sort it

Have your bank account number and sort code to hand. Payments can take between 3 and 5 working days.

Order travel money

Ready to get your holiday cash sorted?

Find a branch 

Just enter a postcode, town name or street name to get a list of branches near you and their services, including those that trade in foreign currency

Common questions

  • No, it’s different to a buyback. Refunds are available if your holiday’s been cancelled. Buybacks are when you have been on holiday and returned with some foreign cash left over, which we’ll then buy off you.

  • The way buybacks work means we can only buy currency back at the rate on the day you visit. This is unlikely to be the full amount you paid for it. You can apply to us by post or email to get the difference refunded.

  • You have 28 days from the date you bought your currency.

    If after that you still want to change your currency back to sterling, we’ll buy back leftover currency notes commission-free if you bring your original Post Office receipt.

  • We aim to process all refund requests within two weeks of receiving them. But these times may increase if there’s large-scale disruption to our operations, such as we experienced during the coronavirus pandemic.

    1. Refunds are available on all purchases of Post Office Ltd (“Post Office”) foreign currency either online or in branch.
    2. Refunds apply to Post Office Travel Money Card and foreign currency.
    3. Refunds exclude any bank or other charges that a purchaser may have incurred at the time of purchase.
    4. Refunds exclude any and all delivery charges relating to the purchase of foreign currency.
    5. Customers need to present original purchase and sales receipts or provide scanned copies by email at the time of requesting a refund. If you are providing scanned copies, please send to customercare@postoffice.co.uk
    6. If obtaining a refund for cash only the original currency purchased will be accepted.
    7. A refund will only be given for the full amount of currency purchased, both receipts must be for the same currency amounts and there are no refunds for part of a purchase.
    8. Refunds must be claimed no later than 28 days from the date of purchase.
    9. If you bought physical foreign currency online or from a Post Office branch, you will need to go into a Post Office branch that sells foreign currency to arrange your refund by following the process highlighted on this page.
    10. If you bought foreign currency using a Travel Money Card, you must call the number on the back of your Travel Money Card and Post Office will take you through the next steps. Please note that a Post Office branch will not be able to assist you with a refund for Travel Money Card top-ups.
    11. A full refund will only be given where a holiday has been cancelled due to the following circumstances: Industrial Strike Action, Natural Disaster, Tour Operator Insolvency, advisory notice from the Foreign Office not to travel, adverse weather conditions preventing travel, Health Alert in the country of destination, other reasons at the discretion of Post Office Ltd.
    12. Evidence of holiday cancellation may be required in order to obtain a refund.
    13. Post Office reserves the right to refuse any refund where it is believed that these Terms and Conditions have not been met, or where it is believed that the transaction is fraudulent.
    14. Refunds are only obtainable by the original purchaser.
    15. Refunds will be made at the same exchange rate as given at the time of purchase.
    16. Post Office reserves the right to amend, suspend or cancel the refund offer at any time without notice.
    17. The refund offer does not affect your statutory rights.
    18. The decision of Post Office regarding any matter relating to the refund offer is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.

Post Office Travel Money Card is an electronic money product issued by First Rate Exchange Services Ltd pursuant to license by Mastercard International. First Rate Exchange Services Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales with number 4287490 whose registered office is Great West House, Great West Road, Brentford, TW8 9DF, (Financial Services Register No. 900412). Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.