[BUG] Billing: $1,400 gift subscription credit destroyed by Stripe proration logic (14 Max 20x gift codes)

[volehuy1998]

Preflight Checklist

• I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

$1,400 in gift subscription credit is missing from my account. I redeemed 14 Claude Max 20x gift codes ($200 each = $2,800 total) between March 17–22, 2026. My account currently shows only $1,400 credit.

Each gift redemption triggers Stripe to cancel the previous subscription period with a $0.00 "Unused time" proration invoice (because gifts use a 100% off coupon). This destroys the remaining gift value. 13 such cancellation events occurred.

Credit is also actively decreasing with no new invoices: $2,600 (Mar 22) → $1,600 (Mar 26) → $1,400 (Mar 28). Extra usage is NOT enabled.

Support ticket (Conv ID: 215473641626850) submitted Mar 26 and email to support@anthropic.com sent Mar 28 — no human response received.

What Should Happen?

Each gift code should add $200 to subscription credit. 14 codes × $200 = $2,800 credit. Gift redemptions should stack additively without destroying previously redeemed gift value.

Error Messages/Logs

No error messages displayed. The system silently accepted all 14 gift codes.
However, Stripe generated 13 "Unused time" proration invoices (all $0.00):

Invoice G1SCCI4M-0009: "Unused time on Max plan - 20x (with 100.0% off) after 20 Mar 2026" = $0.00
Invoice G1SCCI4M-0014: "Unused time on Max plan - 20x (with 100.0% off) after 21 Mar 2026" = $0.00
Invoice G1SCCI4M-0015: "Unused time on Max plan - 20x (with 100.0% off) after 21 Mar 2026" = $0.00
Invoice G1SCCI4M-0016: "Unused time on Max plan - 20x (with 100.0% off) after 21 Mar 2026" = $0.00
Invoice G1SCCI4M-0017: "Unused time on Max plan - 20x (with 100.0% off) after 21 Mar 2026" = $0.00
Invoice G1SCCI4M-0026: "Unused time on Max plan - 20x (with 100.0% off) after 22 Mar 2026" = $0.00
Invoice G1SCCI4M-0027: "Unused time on Max plan - 20x (with 100.0% off) after 22 Mar 2026" = $0.00
Invoice G1SCCI4M-0028: "Unused time on Max plan - 20x (with 100.0% off) after 22 Mar 2026" = $0.00
Invoice G1SCCI4M-0029: "Unused time on Max plan - 20x (with 100.0% off) after 22 Mar 2026" = $0.00
Invoice G1SCCI4M-0030: "Unused time on Max plan - 20x (with 100.0% off) after 22 Mar 2026" = $0.00
Invoice G1SCCI4M-0031: "Unused time on Max plan - 20x (with 100.0% off) after 22 Mar 2026" = $0.00
Invoice G1SCCI4M-0032: "Unused time on Max plan - 20x (with 100.0% off

Steps to Reproduce

1. Have an active Claude subscription (Pro or gift Max 20x)
2. Go to claude.ai/gift/redeem
3. Redeem a Claude Max 20x gift code → subscription period starts, credit +$200
4. Redeem a second Max 20x gift code on the same account
5. Observe in Settings > Billing: Stripe cancels first gift period, generates "Unused time" invoice at $0.00
6. Repeat with additional gift codes
7. Check credit balance → does NOT equal (number of gifts × $200)

My specific case:

• Mar 17: Redeemed 1 gift (Pro → Max transition) → Invoice Feedback / Feature request: word-diff #7
• Mar 20: Redeemed 1 gift → Invoice Pls help to setup claude code #8
• Mar 21: Redeemed 4 gifts → Invoices Read Updated Files #10-0013
• Mar 22: Redeemed 8 gifts → Invoices GitHub CLI and Git Command Execution Failure on MacOS #18-0025
• Total: 14 gifts × $200 = $2,800 expected
• Actual credit: $1,400 (missing $1,400)

Account: volehuy1998@gmail.com
Stripe Customer: G1SCCI4M
Support Ticket: Conversation ID 215473641626850 (no human response after 5 days)

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

No response

Claude Code Version

2.1.87 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

Account Information

• Account: volehuy1998@gmail.com
• Plan: Claude Max 20x (via Gift Subscription)
• Stripe Customer Prefix: G1SCCI4M
• Support Ticket: Conversation ID 215473641626850 (submitted Mar 26, no human response)
• Email: Sent to support@anthropic.com Mar 28 (no response)

Detailed Evidence

Between March 17–22, 2026, I redeemed 14 Claude Max 20x gift codes ($200 each) in 4 sessions:

Date	Gifts	Invoice Numbers
Mar 17	1 (Pro → Max transition)	#7
Mar 20	1	#8
Mar 21	4	#10, #11, #12, #13
Mar 22	8	#18 through #25
Total	14 × $200 = $2,800

Credit Balance Tracking

Date	Credit	Change	Explanation
Mar 22	$2,600	—	Already $200 short after all redemptions
Mar 26	$1,600	-$1,000	No new invoice
Mar 28	$1,400	-$200	No new invoice

Total missing: $2,800 - $1,400 = $1,400
Extra usage is NOT enabled.

Root Cause

Each gift redemption triggers Stripe to cancel the current period and generate "Unused time" proration at $0.00 (because gifts = 100% off coupon). Stripe calculates proration on amount paid ($0), not gift face value ($200).

13 cancellation events documented:

• Feedback / Feature request: word-diff #7 cancelled by Pls help to setup claude code #8 → Windows support planned? #9 ($0 proration)
• Pls help to setup claude code #8 cancelled by Read Updated Files #10 → Misaligned Terminal Output Formatting #14 ($0 proration)
• Read Updated Files #10 cancelled by Cant login OAuth error: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'digest') #11 → I cannot start claude #15 ($0 proration)
• Cant login OAuth error: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'digest') #11 cancelled by Add config to disable automatic update warning #12 → Add ability to add per-key spend limits #16 ($0 proration)
• Add config to disable automatic update warning #12 cancelled by Detect if underlying file has change between when diff was computed and apply #13 → Option to provisionally accept an edit #17 ($0 proration)
• Detect if underlying file has change between when diff was computed and apply #13 cancelled by GitHub CLI and Git Command Execution Failure on MacOS #18 → Incorrect PowerShell Build Command for .NET Project #26 ($0 proration)
• GitHub CLI and Git Command Execution Failure on MacOS #18 cancelled by VSCode terminal disappearing on spacebar input #19 → Run -p without confirmation #27 ($0 proration)
• VSCode terminal disappearing on spacebar input #19 cancelled by Cost Control Confirmation Prompt for AI Queries #20 → VSCode Terminal Setup Keybinding Installation Failed #28 ($0 proration)
• Cost Control Confirmation Prompt for AI Queries #20 cancelled by Transparency in Context Window Construction for AI Assistants #21 → GitHub CLI Command Hangs When Invoked by Claude #29 ($0 proration)
• Transparency in Context Window Construction for AI Assistants #21 cancelled by Model Selection Flexibility for Cost-Effective AI Interactions #22 → EPIPE Error When Running /clear Command in Ghostty Terminal #30 ($0 proration)
• Model Selection Flexibility for Cost-Effective AI Interactions #22 cancelled by public release has happened :-D #23 → EPIPE Crash When Running Claude Code in Python Project Directory #31 ($0 proration)
• public release has happened :-D #23 cancelled by Rename DEBUG env option to CLAUDE_DEBUG #24 → Terminal Input Field Becomes Unresponsive with Long Text Submissions #32 ($0 proration)
• Rename DEBUG env option to CLAUDE_DEBUG #24 cancelled by Error on first run on Windows #25 → Add bash/emacs keybindings to move around options #33 ($0 proration)

Only #25 (Mar 22–Apr 22) survived.

Documentation Contradiction

Anthropic help center states: "It's not possible to redeem multiple gifts at one time or stack redemptions." But the system accepted all 14 codes without error or warning.

Invoice Summary

• 14 GIFT invoices (all confirmed $200 with 100% off)
• 13 UNUSED TIME invoices (all $0.00 proration)
• 1 EXTRA USAGE invoice (OAuth error on a new project #4, $0.00)
• 2 PRO plan invoices (I want to use openrouter #2 $20, Claude is either blank or non-interactive #3 $20)
• 3 missing (Create SECURITY.md #1, Timeout and Error After Long-Running Prompt #5, AWS Bedrock support #6 — likely Pro transition)
• 28 receipts cross-verified

Request

1. Restore missing $1,400 credit
2. Halt ongoing credit erosion
3. Fix proration logic for gift subscriptions
4. Block or warn on multiple gift redemptions if unsupported

Related Issues

• [BUG] Billing: $50 credits disappeared after Claude Pro subscription renewal (Receipt XXXX-XXXX-7352) #23674 — $50 credits disappeared after renewal
• [BUG] Billing: $50 Opus 4.6 promotional credit disappeared after subscription renewal #25586 — $50 promotional credit disappeared
• [BUG] Billing: $50 promotional credit never applied — card charged while credit remains full #26089 — $50 credit never applied

4-page forensic PDF report with complete analysis available upon request.

[volehuy1998]

UPDATE April 2: Credit dropped to $800. Lost another $400 since March 31. Total missing is now $2,000 out of $2,800. The rate of loss is accelerating - previously $200 every 2 days, now $400 in 2 days. At this rate my entire credit will be gone within a week. Still zero human response across all channels after 7 days. This is urgent.

[DmitriyGolub]

Same issue. Gift Max 5x redeemed Feb 5 and Mar 21, 2026. Both invoices show $0.00 Account stuck on Free plan since March 31. Support ticket 215473712891046 — 5 days, no human response. Account: heartnesnev@gmail.com

[pamara251]

me too :) pls send help

[dahakagh]

Same problem. I purchased a Max subscription and received it as a gift on April 3rd. It was supposed to last a month, but it only lasted four days and disappeared completely on April 7th. Now I'm on the free plan.

[spgsroot]

same

[dmitrygil1]

same
23mar -> 7apr (16 day).
No mail, no info about.

Wtf, Anthropic?

[MitsaGames]

Same problem. I purchased a Max subscription and received it as a gift on April 3rd. It was supposed to last a month, but it only lasted four days and disappeared completely on April 7th. Now I'm on the free plan.

Same

[spgsroot]

I solved the problem by spending all the funds on my balance.

[tr1plejj]

If you're affected by this, I've written a detailed post aggregating multiple reports including yours: https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1sgkoxn/anthropic_gift_subscriptions_are_silently/ — also posted on X: https://x.com/Lynne1137561/status/2042189688492953976. The more visibility this gets, the harder it is to ignore.