[BUG] npm publish tells me I have to make a payment, but its an open source repository I am trying to publish

[akc42]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

This issue exists in the latest npm version

• I am using the latest npm

Current Behavior

I use the command npm publish and get a request to open a browser;
I open the browser and correctly enter the code from google autheticator.
The comand line continues but then says it cannot proceed because I have to pay for private repositories

However this repository is not private (akc/html-editor.get)

Expected Behavior

It immediately publishes my package (@akc42/html-editor)

Steps To Reproduce

npm publish

Environment

npm -v 10.8.2
node -v v20.9.0
OS Name: Debian 6.1.99-1
System: AMD64
npm config -r ; "user" config from /home/alan/.npmrc

//registry.npmjs.org/:_authToken = (protected)

; node bin location = /home/alan/.nvm/versions/node/v20.9.0/bin/node
; node version = v20.9.0
; npm local prefix = /home/alan/dev/html-editor
; npm version = 10.8.2
; cwd = /home/alan/dev/html-editor
; HOME = /home/alan
; Run npm config ls -l to show all defaults.

[ljharb]

Try npm publish --access=public. Scoped packages default to private.