API returning 429 RESOURCE_EXHAUSTED despite active billing / previous volume history

ello, I am seeking assistance with a persistent 429 RESOURCE_EXHAUSTED error.

The Problem: My account is consistently hitting quota limits even with minimal usage. This is occurring on a project with an active billing history (approx. $78 spend in Jan 2026). The error feels like a backend mismatch where the API is enforcing Free Tier daily limits (250 RPD) instead of the Pay-as-you-go Tier 1/2 limits.

Diagnostics:

  • Billing is confirmed active in Google Cloud Console.

  • Issue persists with all models.

  • API keys have been regenerated and settings.json reloaded.

Privacy Note: I am not posting my Project ID here for security reasons. Could an admin please reach out via DM or provide a secure way to share my Project ID and/or internal Google LDAP if needed for reference for verification? (Note: My project account uses my personal @gmail account, but I have a related internal reference).