---
title: "402 — payment required"
url: https://lumean.app/de/developers/docs/errors/402
locale: de
description: "The order was not created and no money was charged. The code is returned by `POST /orders` and `POST /orders/{order}/retry` — they go through the same billing flow. The body always contains `reason`, and that is what determines whether this is an error or an offer to top up."
generated: 2026-10-17
---

# 402 — payment required

- HTTP: `402`

- `Retry-After`-Header: nein

## Was passiert ist

The order was not created and no money was charged. The code is returned by `POST /orders` and `POST /orders/{order}/retry` — they go through the same billing flow. The body always contains `reason`, and that is what determines whether this is an error or an offer to top up.

## Warum

Three different cases live under the 402 code. `payg_topup_required` — the subscription quota was not enough, but the service allows pay-as-you-go: this is a payment decision point, not a refusal. `insufficient_balance` — there is not enough LMC on the balance. `insufficient_allowance` — the quota was not enough and PAYG is disabled for the service, so a top-up is not possible.

## Was zu tun ist

Branch on `reason`, not on `message`: message wording changes without notice and is not an error code. Do not retry blindly: a retry without confirmation returns a fresh 402 with a new `quote_token`, while a blind retry WITH confirmation charges money without the user knowing.

## Nächste Anfrage

`GET /subscriptions` — the remaining quota is in `items[].tokens_remaining`. If it is zero and the `reason` was `payg_topup_required`, the next step is a confirmed top-up (see the code page).

## Verwandt

- [payg_topup_required — offer to top up](https://lumean.app/de/developers/docs/errors/payg-topup-required)
- [insufficient_balance — not enough LMC](https://lumean.app/de/developers/docs/errors/insufficient-balance)
- [insufficient_allowance — PAYG disabled](https://lumean.app/de/developers/docs/errors/insufficient-allowance)
- [Guide: LMC, quotas, and PAYG](https://lumean.app/de/developers/docs/guide/billing)
- [POST /orders](https://lumean.app/de/developers/docs/api/post-orders)
- [Wallet](https://lumean.app/de/wallet)
- [Plans](https://lumean.app/de/shop)

---

- Diese Seite im Browser: https://lumean.app/de/developers/docs/errors/402
- Vollständige maschinenlesbare Referenz: https://api.lumean.app/docs/llm.md