Cash Voucher SMS Not Received

Last checked: 26 June 2026

Quick Answer and Code/Menu Path

If a cash voucher SMS not received problem happens, first check whether the original send-money transaction was successful before sending money again. A missing SMS does not always mean the transaction failed. The SMS may be delayed, blocked, deleted, sent to the wrong number, or affected by network coverage.

There is no single universal code for every cash voucher. The correct menu path depends on the bank or wallet that created the voucher.

The safest next step is to identify the provider, check the transaction status, and use the official resend, retrieve, cancel, or support route. Do not share your banking PIN, app PIN, OTP, online banking password, full card number, or voucher details with anyone who is not the intended receiver.

How to Send Money or Withdraw Cash

A cash voucher is usually created when a sender uses a banking app, online banking, cellphone banking, USSD, ATM, or selected retail partner to send money to a cellphone number. The receiver then uses the voucher, reference number, withdrawal number, PIN, or secret code to collect the cash from an ATM or participating retailer.

The usual flow is:

1. The sender chooses a send-money, CashSend, Instant Money, Send Cash, eWallet, or cardless withdrawal option.
2. The sender enters the recipient’s cellphone number and amount.
3. The sender confirms the transaction.
4. The provider creates the cash voucher, withdrawal number, reference number, PIN, or secret code.
5. The receiver uses the correct details at the correct ATM, retailer, wallet, or cellphone banking menu.
6. The money is either withdrawn, remains unredeemed, is cancelled, or expires according to that provider’s rules.

When a send money SMS not received issue occurs, the sender and receiver should not guess the next step. The correct action depends on whether the money was sent through Nedbank, Standard Bank, Capitec, Absa, FNB, or another provider.

Check network and account status

Before retrying, check these basics:

• The recipient’s phone is switched on.
• The recipient has mobile network signal.
• The sender entered the correct cellphone number.
• The recipient checked blocked SMS, spam folders, message filters, and dual-SIM settings.
• The recipient has not recently changed SIM, ported networks, or completed a SIM swap.
• The sender can see whether the transaction is successful, failed, pending, cancelled, redeemed, or unredeemed.
• The receiver is trying to withdraw at a supported ATM, retailer, or wallet channel.

A missing voucher SMS can happen because of network delays, phone settings, wrong numbers, deleted messages, or temporary system issues. It can also become a fraud risk if someone uses the delay to pressure the sender into sending another voucher.

Retrieve or resend the cash voucher

Use the provider-specific route.

For Nedbank, the recipient can dial 120001# or 120002# to have the cash voucher resent. Nedbank also states in its cardless withdrawal terms that if the recipient deletes the SMS before the 30-day period expires, they can dial 120001# to retrieve the original voucher and PIN. (Nedbank)

For Standard Bank Instant Money, the user can dial 120212# and select option 2 to resend the voucher SMS. Standard Bank also says users can call the Instant Money contact centre on 0860 466 639, and if the voucher was sent from SPAR, the sender can return to the store with ID to resend the last active voucher. (Standard Bank)

For Capitec Send Cash, the receiver needs the reference number and the 4-digit secret code. Capitec says the reference number is sent to the sender and can be shared with the recipient, while the secret code must also be sent to the recipient. (Capitec Bank)

For Absa CashSend, the receiver needs the 10-digit reference or withdrawal number and the 6-digit access code from the sender. Absa says the receiver enters these details at an Absa ATM to withdraw the money. (Absa)

For FNB eWallet, the receiver may need to request or generate a temporary ATM PIN. FNB also warns that reversals are not guaranteed and may attract a charge, so the sender should use the official eWallet support route when the money went to the wrong number or cannot be accessed. (FNB)

Retry safely

Do not create a second cash voucher until you know what happened to the first one.

Retry only when:

• The first transaction clearly failed.
• The bank confirms the money was not sent.
• The first voucher was safely cancelled.
• The provider’s official support route tells you to send again.

Do not retry when:

• The sender’s banking app shows the transaction as successful.
• The voucher may still be active.
• The recipient has not checked their phone and network properly.
• The money may have been sent to the wrong number.
• Someone is pressuring you to send another voucher quickly.

If the first transaction is active, use the retrieve or resend route. If it was sent to the wrong number, use the provider’s official reversal or support process immediately.

Fees, Limits, Expiry, and Reversal Notes

Fees, limits, expiry periods, and reversal rules can change. Check the latest provider pricing guide, banking app, official website, or contact centre before publishing or acting on any amount-specific information.

Voucher expiry

Nedbank’s cardless withdrawal terms say that if the recipient does not withdraw the money, Nedbank will cancel the instruction and return the money to the sender’s account. Nedbank also says a deleted SMS can be retrieved before the 30 days expire by dialling 120001#. (Nedbank)

Standard Bank says Instant Money vouchers are valid for 3 years from the date issued, and the PIN does not expire while the voucher is active. (Standard Bank)

Absa says CashSend transactions are available for 30 days only. (Absa)

FNB eWallet works differently from a simple once-off cash voucher because the receiver may use a temporary ATM PIN to withdraw from the eWallet. FNB says the temporary ATM PIN is used to get cash at an FNB ATM, while the eWallet PIN protects funds in the eWallet. (FNB)

Fees and limits

Do not assume that all resend, withdrawal, reversal, or cancellation actions are free. Do not assume that every USSD route works on every SIM or account type.

Capitec lists different Send Cash fees and limits depending on whether the sender uses the app or 1203279#. Capitec also says cash collection at Capitec ATMs and selected retail partners is free. (Capitec Bank)

Standard Bank says Instant Money Wallet users can store vouchers of up to R25 000 per month and send up to R10 000 per day from the wallet. (Standard Bank)

FNB says the maximum amount that can be sent to an eWallet depends on the sending channel, and that a reversal may attract a charge and is not guaranteed. (FNB)

Because these details are provider-specific, always verify them before sending money, advising a user, or publishing a fixed amount on the page.

Cancellation and reversal notes

A cash voucher reversal is not guaranteed. It usually depends on whether the money has already been collected, whether the voucher is still active, and whether the provider allows cancellation through that channel.

Standard Bank’s Instant Money terms state that if the receiver has not already collected the money, the sender may cancel the voucher through a channel or collect the money themselves, but fees paid for the service are not refunded. (Standard Bank)

FNB says there may be a charge when requesting a reversal and reversals are not guaranteed. (FNB)

If the voucher was sent to the wrong number, contact the bank immediately. Keep the transaction reference, amount, date, recipient number, bank channel used, and any confirmation screen. Do not wait for the unintended recipient to act.

Safety Checks Before You Confirm

A cash voucher SMS not received issue can create pressure, especially if the receiver is waiting at an ATM or retailer. Slow down before sharing codes, sending another voucher, or responding to messages.

Check these details first

Before confirming any send-money action, check:

• The recipient’s cellphone number.
• The amount.
• The bank or wallet being used.
• The withdrawal point or retailer.
• The transaction fee.
• The expiry rule.
• Whether the voucher can be cancelled if something goes wrong.
• Whether the recipient needs a reference number, voucher number, PIN, secret code, or access code.
• Whether the SMS was sent to the sender or receiver.

This matters because different providers handle voucher details differently. For example, Capitec says the Send Cash reference number is sent to the sender, while Absa says the CashSend receiver enters a 10-digit reference or withdrawal number and 6-digit access code. (Capitec Bank)

Never share confidential banking details

Never share:

• Banking PIN.
• App PIN.
• Online banking password.
• OTP.
• Card PIN.
• Full card number.
• Internet banking login.
• Remote access to your phone.
• Voucher details with someone who is not the intended receiver.

SABRIC warns that banks will never ask for your PIN, OTP, or banking password, and says users should hang up and call the official number if someone claims to be from the bank. (SABRIC)

SABRIC also advises users not to read OTPs back to anyone over the phone, regardless of who they claim to be. (SABRIC)

Watch for voucher fraud

Stop immediately if someone says you must generate a cash voucher to:

• Reverse fraud.
• Unlock your bank account.
• Stop a debit order.
• Protect your money.
• Confirm your identity.
• Prove ownership of your account.
• Receive a refund.
• Avoid your account being blocked.

Capitec warns customers never to act on instructions to perform a Send Cash transaction, transfer money to a “safe account”, or approve a transaction under pressure. (Capitec Bank)

Use only official bank channels. Do not click a link from a stranger to retrieve a voucher. Do not phone a support number from an SMS unless you have verified it on the provider’s official website or banking app.

Related Bank and Wallet Guides

Use the next page that matches the problem:

• Retrieve cash voucher USSD code — use this when a voucher SMS was deleted, delayed, lost, or needs to be retrieved.
• Send money USSD code South Africa — use this to compare send-money and cardless-cash USSD routes across banks and wallets.
• Capitec Send Cash USSD code — use this if the missing SMS relates to Capitec Send Cash.
• Cardless withdrawal USSD code — use this for broader cardless cash and ATM withdrawal guidance.
• Sent cash to wrong number — use this if the SMS problem happened because the sender entered the wrong cellphone number.

FAQ

What should users check before using cash voucher SMS not received?

Check the provider, recipient cellphone number, transaction status, network signal, blocked messages, and whether the voucher is still active. Then use the official retrieve or resend route for that provider. Do not send a second voucher until the first transaction is confirmed as failed, cancelled, or expired.

Can cash voucher SMS not received be cancelled or reversed?

Sometimes, but it depends on the provider and whether the money has already been collected. Standard Bank says an Instant Money voucher may be cancelled if the receiver has not collected the money, but fees paid for the service are not refunded. FNB says eWallet reversals are not guaranteed and may attract a charge. (Standard Bank)

What happens if a voucher or withdrawal code expires?

The result depends on the provider. Nedbank states that if the recipient does not withdraw the money, the instruction is cancelled and the money is returned to the sender’s account. Standard Bank says Instant Money vouchers are valid for 3 years from the date issued. Absa says CashSend transactions are available for 30 days only. (Nedbank)

Are there fees or limits for cash voucher SMS not received?

Yes, there may be fees, limits, and channel rules. Capitec lists different Send Cash fees and limits for app and USSD use. FNB says eWallet limits depend on the sending channel, and reversals may attract a charge. Always check the provider’s official pricing guide or app before relying on a fee or limit. (Capitec Bank)

What should users do if cash voucher SMS not received is not working?

Use the provider’s official route. Nedbank recipients can dial 120001# or 120002# to have the voucher resent. Standard Bank Instant Money users can dial 120212# and select option 2. Capitec receivers need the reference number and 4-digit secret code from the sender. Absa CashSend receivers need the 10-digit withdrawal/reference number and 6-digit access code. (Nedbank)

Is cash voucher SMS not received safe?

The missing SMS itself is not always unsafe. It can be caused by network delay, wrong number, phone settings, or a deleted message. It becomes unsafe when someone asks for your OTP, banking PIN, app password, card PIN, or tells you to send another voucher urgently. Banks and fraud-prevention bodies warn users not to share confidential banking details with anyone. (SABRIC)