OpenAI bans paying user with 30+ Codex agents, livelihood locked for 3 years
No reason given for the ban; appeal pending with family income at stake.
A Reddit user (u/biz_king_15) from Pakistan, an AI engineer and sole provider for his family, shared that his OpenAI account was banned the day after he paid for his subscription. The ban cites 'fraudulent activity,' but he maintains he never violated any rules — no jailbreaking, no shared accounts, no chargebacks. Over three years, he built 30-40 custom Codex agents on the platform, which are now locked along with his clients' data and all source of income.
In an update, he received a reply from OpenAI Support (Louise) confirming the case was documented and escalated to their review team, with instructions to wait. He immediately offered government ID, billing history, and API logs to prove his innocence. However, the indefinite waiting period is terrifying for him, as his entire livelihood depends on regaining access. He's asking the community for advice on how long the review typically takes or how to reach a real human at OpenAI. The post has gained massive support, but his family's financial stability remains in critical limbo.
- Account banned one day after subscription payment, no reason given.
- User had 30-40 active Codex agents representing 3 years of client work.
- Escalation to OpenAI review team; user provided full ID, billing, and API logs.
Why It Matters
Highlights vulnerability of AI-dependent professionals to opaque platform bans, risking livelihoods with no guarantee of recourse.