HERMES.md in commit messages causes requests to route to extra usage billing (github.com)

Article summary

A user reported an issue with Claude Code where the presence of the string 'HERMES.md' in a git commit message caused API requests to be routed to extra usage billing instead of the included plan quota, resulting in unexpected charges. The user was unable to get a refund for the incorrect billing. The issue was identified through a systematic binary search of commit messages. The company's response was to offer a refund and additional credits to affected users.

Main themes

• Billing errors
• Technical issues
• Customer support
• Refund policies
• AI-generated responses

What commenters say

• The company's policy of not issuing refunds for technical errors is surprising and potentially illegal in many countries.
• Allowing AI to generate policies and responses can lead to unrealistic and unfair expectations.
• Small claims court can be an effective way to resolve disputes over small amounts of money, but it may not always be successful in retrieving the owed amount.
• The company's response to the issue seems to be a standard, unhelpful reply that may have been generated by an AI, rather than a genuine attempt to address the user's concerns.
• Some commenters believe that the company's actions are a sign of a larger problem with their business practices and treatment of customers.
• Others argue that taking the company to small claims court may not be worth the time and effort, as the amount of money involved is relatively small.