# insufficient_balance

- HTTP status: 402
- Retry: No
- Execution: not started
- Admin needed: yes

**Insufficient balance.** Calls are paid from the workspace balance. Before dialling, the API checks that the balance covers the minimum needed to start (an estimate for a campaign). `details` shows both amounts as charged to your workspace.

## What it means

The API returns HTTP 402 with `error.code` set to `insufficient_balance`. The default message is: "The workspace balance is too low to start this call. Top up to continue."

## Common causes

- The balance is below the amount needed to start the call or the campaign.

## How to identify it

Check the response status (`402`) and `error.code` (`insufficient_balance`). Branch on `error.code`, not on the message text: messages can be reworded, codes do not change within v1. Log `error.request_id` (also sent as the `X-Request-Id` header) so support can find the request.

## How to fix it

- A workspace admin tops up the balance in the console (Billing), then retry.

## Retry guidance

Sending the request unchanged fails the same way. Fix the cause first (see How to fix it), then send it again.

## Did anything happen?

This request was refused before any call was placed and before anything was charged.

## Idempotency

Nothing was done and the refusal is not stored under the Idempotency-Key. Fix the cause, then send the same request (with the same key if you sent one).

## Who can fix it

A workspace administrator usually has to act, in the RelationsAI console.

## When to contact support

If the error persists after the steps above, contact [support@relationsai.com](mailto:support@relationsai.com). See [Support](/resources/support) for what to include (the `request_id`, the time in UTC, the operation, and whether you used a test or live key) and what never to send (API keys, Authorization headers, webhook signing secrets, recording links, transcripts or customer data).

## Example error response

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "insufficient_balance",
    "message": "The workspace balance is too low to start this call. Top up to continue.",
    "details": {
      "balance": {
        "amount": 250,
        "currency": "INR"
      },
      "required": {
        "amount": 600,
        "currency": "INR"
      }
    },
    "request_id": "req_med4obvxklwxlxv323s4s23k",
    "retry": "no",
    "doc_url": "https://docs.relationsai.com/errors/insufficient_balance"
  }
}
```

## Operations that can return this error

- [`POST /calls`](/api/calls#place-a-call): Place a call
- [`POST /campaigns/{campaign_id}/start`](/api/campaigns#start-a-campaign): Start a campaign
- [`POST /campaigns/{campaign_id}/resume`](/api/campaigns#resume-a-campaign): Resume a campaign

See all codes in the [error-code reference](/fundamentals/error-codes).