Hello AI Studio Team,
I am writing to request assistance with an inaccessible prepay balance on my account (My Gemini API Billing ID is 016668-249308-3F5F..).
The Issue:
On July 8 2026, I deposited $10.00 into my prepay account
to use the Gemini API via an external tool (DYAD). The API worked perfectly initially. However, once my balance naturally dropped to $8.73 due to usage, my API access was completely cut off.
I am now encountering a red error banner stating: “To complete setup, add at least $10.00 to your prepay account.”
The Disconnect:
Furthermore, when I look at the main Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Console under Billing Account Management to check my status, the console acts as if no billing account exists and prompts me to “create an account” from scratch. It appears my remaining $8.73 is completely trapped inside the standalone Google AI Studio wallet, yet the API will not let me use my remaining funds unless I deposit even more money.
My Request:
Because the billing systems have disconnected and I cannot utilize the remaining $8.73 across Vertex AI or standard GCP endpoints without a forced top-up, I would like to request either:
- A manual refund of the remaining $8.73 back to my original payment method, or
- A way to bypass the $10 minimum restriction block so I can actually utilize the remaining balance I already paid for.
I have attached a screenshot of my Gemini API Billing page showing the active $8.73 balance alongside the setup restriction banner.
Thank you for your time and assistance in resolving this billing glitch.