Claude Code AI errors caused unnecessary Gemini API costs and wasted user time

Summary

During a work session, Claude Code (Sonnet 4.6 / Opus 4.6) made multiple critical errors that caused financial damage to the user through wasted Gemini API costs and wasted Claude Code API usage.

Errors caused by Claude Code

1. Multiple process launches: Claude launched a parallel conversion script 3-4 times simultaneously, causing duplicate Gemini Vision API calls
2. Wrong default parameter: Claude set --base-dir to a subdirectory instead of the root directory, causing 2,134 files to be converted twice at different paths
3. No RPD detection: Claude failed to implement rate limit detection before launching large batch jobs, causing 6,631 files to hit Gemini API 429 errors without stopping
4. Repeated wrong analysis: Claude spent extensive API tokens on incorrect root cause analysis, changing conclusions multiple times (font issue -> column width -> resource contention -> API 429) before identifying the actual problems
5. Protocol violations: Claude repeatedly ignored its own configured rules (CLAUDE.md), skipping required steps and creating task memos late

Financial impact

• Gemini API: Duplicate conversions (2,134 files), multiple process launches, 429 errors after quota exhaustion
• Claude Code API: Extended debugging sessions with wrong conclusions, repeated re-analysis

Request

The user requests consideration for a partial refund of Claude Code usage costs for this session, as the majority of API consumption was due to Claude's own errors, not productive work.

Environment

• Claude Code on Windows 11
• Models used: claude-sonnet-4-6, claude-opus-4-6
• Date: 2026-02-21