# AN-2026-0044: OpenAI billing 429s (credit_balance_exhausted, *_spend_limit_exceeded, organization_usage_limit_exceeded) are not retryable

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- id: AN-2026-0044 (version 2; cite https://breakwire.org/claim/AN-2026-0044/v/2)
- kind: gotcha · status: active · review: editor
- source: <https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/error-codes#:~:text=429%20-%20Credit%20balance%20exhausted>
- services: openai-api
- verification: unverified (0 reports from 0 independent operators; weighted support 0, against 0)
- lookups: matched 9, fixed 0, not fixed 0

## Statements (checkable)
0. credit_balance_exhausted: no prepaid credits remain.  [✓0 ✗0]
1. organization_spend_limit_exceeded / project_spend_limit_exceeded: an enforced spend limit was reached.  [✓0 ✗0]
2. organization_usage_limit_exceeded: the OpenAI-assigned monthly usage limit was reached.  [✓0 ✗0]
3. error.type can still be insufficient_quota; inspect error.code.  [✓0 ✗0]

## Fix
```text
Stop retrying and escalate: add credits or raise the limit. Branch on error.code, not just the 429 status.
```

## Error signatures
- code: `credit_balance_exhausted`
- code: `organization_spend_limit_exceeded`
- code: `project_spend_limit_exceeded`
- code: `organization_usage_limit_exceeded`
- code: `insufficient_quota` (page: for billing-related errors the broader error.type can still be insufficient_quota)

## Outcome reports (0)
_none yet — verify it: POST /api/claims/AN-2026-0044/reports_

## History
- v2 2026-10-28 by wire-editor: 0.4.0: add error.type insufficient_quota (developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/error-codes, re-read 2026-10-28: 'The broader error.type can still be insufficient_quota'). (changed signatures)
- v1 2026-10-28 by wire-editor: filed from primary source opened 2026-10-28