[BUG] Pro → Max upgrade fails with "Payment failed" — extra usage credits charge succeeds on same card
Resolved 💬 30 comments Opened May 7, 2026 by dimaku77-lgtm Closed May 10, 2026
Preflight Checklist
- [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
- [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
- [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code
What's Wrong?
Attempting to upgrade from Pro ($20/month) to Max plan on claude.ai fails with "Payment failed. Please try again later." error on every attempt.
Critical diagnostic: The same card successfully charged $6 for extra usage tokens on the same account the same day — which confirms the card and account are working fine. Only the subscription upgrade fails.
What Should Happen?
Subscription upgrades from Pro to Max successfully.
Error Messages/Logs
Payment failed. Please try again later. If the problem persists, contact support at https://support.anthropic.com/Steps to Reproduce
- Log into claude.ai with active Pro subscription
- Go to Settings → Billing
- Select Max plan
- Confirm payment
- Error: "Payment failed. Please try again later. If the problem persists, contact support at https://support.anthropic.com/"
Claude Model
Other
Is this a regression?
Yes, this worked in a previous version
Last Working Version
_No response_
Claude Code Version
browse version
Platform
Anthropic API
Operating System
macOS
Browser
Terminal.app (macOS)
Additional Information
_No response_
30 Comments
same problem here
same problem here
same problem here
same
Same issue right now
Same issue
same issue
Same issue, no response from support. Try to upgrade from max 5x to max 20x.
Tried multiple browsers, Mac OS app, VPN on/off, adding new card, update address. No problem buying extra usage, but that don’t fix my problem.
same issue here!
Looking in console it can look like their payment api don’t even connect..
api.stripe.com/v1/payment_intents/pi_3TWuTfBjIQrRQnux1vkrMF6H/confirmStatus: 400
same issue here, tried a few different card form different bank with different card network, doesn't work either.
Still happening, trying to go from x5 to x20
Found a fix that worked for me
Go to the billing page or the Anthropic gifting portal.
Purchase a Claude Max Gift Subscription using your card.
Send the gift link to your own email address, then redeem it on your active account.
same problem, why is the issue closed?
It went through, finally. Can’t understand why a big company like this has a messed up way to get customers.
same problem here
same issue
Same problem here - I am sick of them
Same problem here, tried different devices, browsers, Claude Desktop, incognito, clearing cookies from Claude and Stripe, trying out different payment methods, nothing worked. No luck from my end. Their Fin AI support is also useless.
Only working solution is to probably gift yourself the plan you want to upgrade to but you'll lose the prorated credits you are eligible to (so paying less).
It seems like this problem has surfaced since like weeks ago but no response or anything. The fact they closed this issue just says they don't care and are just forcing you to go use their pay-as-you-go API which is basically the same as burning money if you're using it for CC.
Just buy ChatGPT Plus at this point bruh.
Same here - Poland - even gift does not work. My account was previously falsely suspended by Anthropic bot, and later reinstated. Since then payments are not working anymore.
same problem for me also
Same problem.
Same problem
I have the same "Payment failed. Please try again later. If the problem persists, contact support at https://support.anthropic.com/" issue when trying to upgrade from pro -> max 5x, so annoying
Same problem 23 May 2026
leave it for 3 days, i was able to upgrade to max plan on 26 May 2026
The problem was resolved by Anthropic itself after many attempts — nothing changed, and I was still getting the same error. But after around 24 hours, exactly I think, once my Pro session expired, it prompted me again to upgrade. I accepted, and the payment went through successfully.
I think it’s just a security measure from Anthropic to block payments for 24 hours in some cases.
Same problem here. I'd like to upgrade to Max but having reported issue.
same issue, and the Fin AI is useless
the same problem
check your credit bills
they chrged me for 7000$ after the payment failure