> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.equip.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Reclaiming Credits from Unattempted Invitations

> Recover credits when invited candidates never start their test or interview.

Equip deducts credits the moment you send an invitation: for an assessment, **1 credit** per candidate, even if the email bounces or is never opened. If the candidate never starts, that credit is not lost: you can **reclaim** it after 24 hours. This page explains when reclaiming is possible, how to do it, and what happens to the candidate's link afterwards.

## When You Can Reclaim

An invitation credit becomes reclaimable only when both conditions below are true:

| Condition                     | Details                                                                                                                                                 |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Candidate has not started** | The candidate has not begun the first test of the assessment (or the AI interview). A test counts as started once its questions load for the candidate. |
| **24 hours have passed**      | The invitation was sent more than 24 hours ago.                                                                                                         |

Reclaiming applies to both **assessment** and **AI interview** invitations.

<Note>
  If a candidate started the first test but abandoned it midway, the credit is not reclaimable. The net effect of Equip's policy is that you pay only for tests candidates actually start; see [Credit Deduction Policy](/credit-deduction-policy) for the full breakdown, including why Equip deducts at invitation time rather than at completion.
</Note>

For example, say you invite candidates A, B, and C to an assessment, so 3 credits are deducted. A never opens the link, B quits midway through the first test, and C finishes. After 24 hours, you can reclaim only A's credit.

## How to Reclaim

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Reclaim Credits page">
    In your dashboard sidebar, go to **Account > Reclaim Credits**. The page lists every invitation that is currently eligible, with columns for **Email ID**, **Reason**, **Job Opening**, and **Sent**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the invitations">
    Use the **Reclaim Credit** button on a single row, or tick the checkboxes on multiple rows and use the bulk reclaim button to process them together.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the reclaim">
    A **Confirm Reclaim** dialog warns that the candidate's invitation link will become invalid. Click **Yes, reclaim** to proceed, or **Cancel** to keep the invitation active.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Your balance increases immediately by the reclaimed amount. The transaction appears as a **Credit Reclaim** in your **Credit Usage** ledger (Account > Credit Usage).

<Tip>
  If an invitation you expected to see is missing from the page, check whether 24 hours have passed since it was sent and whether the candidate has already started.
</Tip>

## What Happens to the Link

Reclaiming a credit **revokes the candidate's invitation link**. The link becomes invalid, so the candidate can no longer use it to attempt the test or interview.

<Warning>
  Reclaiming also **deletes all test data** associated with that candidate's attempt, such as any points recorded. This cannot be undone. If you want the candidate to attempt later, you must send a fresh invitation, which deducts a new credit.
</Warning>

Only reclaim credits for candidates you no longer expect to attempt. If a candidate simply needs more time, leave the invitation active; the credit stays reclaimable for as long as they have not started.

## Common Scenarios

| Scenario                                     | What to Do                                                                                                                                                      |
| -------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Email bounced or was not delivered**       | The credit is still deducted at send time. Wait 24 hours, then reclaim it.                                                                                      |
| **Invited the same candidate twice**         | Equip warns you before a duplicate invite. If you proceed, 2 credits are deducted; reclaim the unused invitation's credit 24 hours after it was sent.           |
| **Balance ran low from unattempted invites** | You can invite up to your current credits plus 25 (the maximum negative balance). Reclaim unattempted invitations to restore your balance, or purchase credits. |

<Note>
  With a negative balance you cannot see candidate results, and below the negative limit of 25 credits, candidates can no longer attempt. Reclaiming eligible credits is often the fastest way to get back above zero.
</Note>

## Related Resources

* [How Credits Work](/how-credits-work) - Credit pricing, balances, and purchasing
* [Credit Deduction Policy](/credit-deduction-policy) - Exactly when each credit is deducted
* [Email Invitations](/email-invitations) - How to invite candidates by email
* [Email Status](/email-status) - Track whether invitations were delivered and opened