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

# Can pass credits be given back to a family?

> When a spent pass credit goes back to a family, what cancelling a session can and cannot return, and what a refund does instead.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * **Cancelling a session doesn't return pass credits.** A pass credit is spent on a whole program or a billing period, not one session. **Family pass credits** returns only punch-card punches spent on that session.
  * **Refunds don't return pass credits.** Refunding or voiding a program registration does not give its pass credit back by itself. Punches that paid for a registration line do come back when you cancel or refund it.
  * **Permission.** Returning punches when you cancel a session needs the **Edit Financials** permission.
</Note>

**The short answer.** Yes, but only when a registration style change removes the athlete. Cancelling a session can give back punches from a punch card instead, a separate prepaid pack ([pass vs punch card](/club/passes/passes-vs-punch-cards)).

**Registration style changes.** If you change a program's registration style and choose **Remove them from the program**, the confirmation says "Anyone who paid with a class pass gets that credit back automatically." It goes to the same holding, never above its allocation, and can be spent again. A one-time program's credit comes back only if the athlete keeps no other place in the program and their last day is before the program ends. A recurring program's credits come back only for billing periods starting after the athlete's last day.

**Give back punch-card punches when you cancel a session.** The cancel screen calls this **Family pass credits**. On this screen, credits means punches, and each holding is one family's punch card.

**Where to find it.** Go to **Registrations > Programs**, open the program's **Sessions** tab, click the session's date and choose **Cancel session** from the three-dot menu. Cancelling one athlete from the roster skips **Family pass credits**.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Review each holding">
    If a family paid for this session with punches, each holding shows the Family (or **Legacy holding awaiting Family assignment**), the card, the athletes, "\[N] credits used" and **Current balance**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose return or keep">
    In each holding's **Choose an action** list, pick **Return credits to this holding** or **Keep credits used**, or use **Return all eligible credits** / **Keep all credits used**. Every eligible holding needs a choice before you can cancel.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Extend the expiry (optional)">
    Returning to a holding with an expiry date offers **Extend expiry through (optional)**. The date must be after today and the current expiry, and covers the whole holding. An expired holding's credits are "returned and held as expired" unless you extend it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Cancel the session">
    Click **Cancel session** (**Continue to refunds** if you also ticked **Refund enrolled athletes**).
  </Step>
</Steps>

**When there's nothing to return.** The list shows "No spent credits are linked directly to this session." You may also see "Some pass usage belongs to the whole program or a billing period. It cannot be assigned to this session." Those credits stay used. A cancelled or archived holding shows a reason instead of a choice.

**Without Edit Financials.** You can still cancel, but "Credits will stay used." Someone with the permission can return them later: on the cancelled session, choose **Issue session credits…**, make the choices and click **Apply pass credit choices**.

**Refunds.** Refunding the pass itself returns money, not spent credits. You choose an amount (**No refund**, **Refund unused credits**, **Refund full amount** or **Custom amount**) and **Keep credits** or **Remove unused credits**. On an unlimited pass the unused option reads **Refund unused days** (or **Refund unused portion**), with **Keep access** or **End access now**. Removing credits or ending access sets the holding to Cancelled. Steps: [refund a membership or pass](/club/refunds-cancellations/how-do-i-refund-a-membership-or-pass).

**Related:** [What happens when a pass holder uses a credit?](/club/passes/what-happens-when-a-credit-is-used) · [How do I edit, reschedule, or cancel a session?](/club/programs-classes/edit-cancel-a-session) · [How do I manage the punch cards families hold?](/club/punch-cards/manage-issued-punch-cards) · [How do I see who holds a pass and their credits?](/club/passes/see-who-holds-a-pass)