# Why do I get 402 Insufficient credits?

> Fix 402 Insufficient credits errors from the Emailit API by buying credits, turning on auto-refill or waiting for your monthly credits to reset.

This article explains the `402` error you get when your workspace doesn't have enough credits for a request, and how to make sure it doesn't stop your sending again.

## Symptoms

`POST /v2/emails` (or retry and forward) returns `402`:

```json
{
  "error": "Insufficient credits",
  "message": "Insufficient credits to send this email. Required: 3, available: 1."
}
```

Related signs:

- Email verification requests return `402` with `Insufficient credits for email verification list.` or a similar message.
- Inbound mail is refused with `452 Insufficient credits to receive inbound email`.
- The **Credits** meter at the bottom of the dashboard sidebar shows `0 left` or close to it.

## Cause

Every billable action uses credits:

| Action | Credits |
| --- | --- |
| Email sent with the API or SMTP (per recipient) | 1 |
| Inbound email received | 1 |
| Campaign email (per recipient) | 2 |
| Automation run | 3 |
| Email verification (per address) | 5 |

The API checks the full cost of a request before it accepts it. A message with 3 recipients across `to`, `cc` and `bcc` needs 3 credits. If you have fewer, the whole request is rejected and nothing is charged.

Your balance has two parts: the credits included with your plan each month, used first, and purchased credits, which never expire. When both are empty, sending stops.

## Fix

1. **Check your balance.** Open **Workspace → Billing** and select **Billable usage**. **Credits remaining** shows what's left, and the chart shows which products used it.

2. **Buy credits.** On **Billable usage**, choose an amount between $20 and $500 and select **Purchase**. You can also use **Top up** in the sidebar. Only workspace admins can buy credits. Purchased credits are available right away.

3. **Retry the failed requests.** A `402` request wasn't sent or charged, so you can resend it as is. Use an [`Idempotency-Key`](/docs/email-api/idempotency/) if your job might resend twice.

4. **Turn on auto-refill.** On **Workspace → Billing**, enable **Auto-refill**, set the **Refill amount** and the **Minimum credit threshold**. Emailit buys credits automatically when your balance drops below the threshold. See [Auto-refill](/docs/billing/auto-refill/).

5. **Consider a plan.** Pro and Business include more monthly credits and a lower price for extra credits. See [Plans](/docs/billing/plans/) and [pricing](/pricing/).

SMTP and campaign emails don't get a `402`. They're charged when Emailit processes them, and if credits run out at that point they're held with the reason `Workspace has not enough email credits to send this email.` Held emails aren't released automatically when you add credits. See [Why is my email held?](/docs/kb/email-status-held/) to resend them, and [How are credits charged per recipient?](/docs/kb/how-credits-are-charged-per-recipient/) for the details of charging.

## Still stuck?

If your balance looks wrong, [contact support](/contact/) or ask in [Discord](https://discord.emailit.com) with your workspace name and the time of the failed request.

---
Source: https://emailit.com/docs/kb/402-insufficient-credits/