OpenAI API returning 429 error on fresh account with $5 credit

Other Questions OpenAI
1

I just set up a brand new OpenAI account and I can see the $5 free credit in my dashboard. However, when I try to make API calls for testing purposes, I keep getting a 429 status code error. I’m not sure if this means I need to add a payment method before I can use the API, or if there’s something wrong with my implementation. Has anyone else experienced this issue with new accounts?

import { OpenAI } from 'openai';
import express from 'express';
const app = express();

const client = new OpenAI({
  apiKey: process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY,
  organization: process.env.OPENAI_ORG_ID
});

app.post('/generate-text', async (req, res) => {
  try {
    const response = await client.chat.completions.create({
      model: 'gpt-3.5-turbo',
      messages: [
        {
          role: 'user',
          content: 'Write a product description for blue sneakers'
        }
      ]
    });
    
    console.log(response);
    res.json({ success: true });
  } catch (error) {
    console.error(error);
    res.status(500).json({ error: 'API call failed' });
  }
});
2

Had this exact problem three weeks ago with a chatbot project. That 429 error’s misleading - it looks like rate limiting, but OpenAI actually blocks API access on new accounts until you add a payment method. They do this to prevent abuse, even though you’ve got free credits waiting. Add your card details and confirm billing - your API calls will work right away. Your $5 credit gets used first before any charges hit. Took me five minutes to fix, and I didn’t pay anything until I burned through the free tier. Your code looks fine, so it’s definitely just the account verification thing.

3

yeah, i ran into that too! you def need to link a payment method, even with the free credit. super frustrating, but that’s the new rule. just do it and you should be good to go!

4

Yeah, this started after OpenAI changed their policies. The 429 error means rate limiting, but for new accounts you usually need to upgrade to a paid plan first. Even with that $5 credit showing, free accounts now have crazy restrictive limits that make the API basically unusable. Same thing happened to me last month - had to add a payment method and switch to pay-as-you-go before my test calls worked. Don’t worry though, it’ll use your existing credit first before charging you anything.