Claude Pro Subscription Bug: Paid Users Stuck on Free Plan

Multiple users on r/ClaudeAI report a critical billing bug: after purchasing a Pro subscription (via card) following a gift pass trial, accounts show as "Paid" in Billing with a valid receipt, but the plan remains Free. Common workarounds — logout, cache clear, browser/device swap — fail. Some users have been unable to get help from Anthropic support (email or FinAI bot) for nearly a week.

Bug Details

• Symptoms: Billing section shows "Paid", receipt issued, but plan reverts to Free. Access to Pro features (e.g., extended context, higher rate limits) is blocked.
• Trigger: Gift pass Pro subscription first, then upgrading via card. The gift pass may permanently flag the account as Free, preventing the paid plan from taking effect.
• Affected users: A high volume of reports in the thread, with users sharing similar experience and receipts.
• Anthropic response: No effective resolution after a week. Support mail and FinAI bot not escalating. Some users suggest cancelling and resubscribing with a new account.

Workarounds Tried (Unsuccessful)

• Logging out and logging back in
• Clearing browser cache and cookies
• Using a different browser or device
• Waiting for up to 24 hours for propagation

Recommendation

Until Anthropic acknowledges and fixes this bug, avoid accepting or redeeming gift passes. If you already used a gift pass, consider creating a new account before subscribing. For those currently stuck, the thread includes upvotes suggesting the issue is widespread.