My account is locked due to a billing issue, so GitHub Actions cannot start

[lymtu]

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Question

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Discussion Details

My personal GitHub account (@lymtu) is currently on the GitHub Free plan.

I previously had a GitHub Copilot trial, but the trial has ended. My public repository uses the standard ubuntu-latest runner for GitHub Pages.

The workflow cannot start and displays:

“The job was not started because your account is locked due to a billing issue.”

Repository:
https://github.com/lymtu/lymtu.github.io

Failed workflow:
https://github.com/lymtu/lymtu.github.io/actions/runs/35441150874

The Actions usage page shows a billed amount of $0. My payment method is frozen, and I cannot update or remove it. I cannot find an active paid subscription or outstanding balance.

Could someone advise how to resolve this account-level billing lock?

[darshankerkar]

Hi @lymtu,

Your screenshots actually explain what's going on. The banner says "Your payment authorization has failed" and the payment page says "Invalid payment method - authorization hold failed". So this isn't a problem with your workflow or Pages setup. GitHub tried to authorize your card, probably when the Copilot trial ended, the bank declined it, and the account got a billing lock. While that lock is on, GitHub-hosted runners won't start jobs, even on a public repo and even with a $0 balance. That's why you see "The job was not started because your account is locked due to a billing issue."

The Ubuntu 26 note under the error is unrelated. It's just an informational heads-up about ubuntu-latest.

Here's what I'd try:

1. Fill in your billing information and save it. The fields on your Payment information page are all empty. Add your full name and address exactly as your bank has it on file, then click "Save billing information". A mismatched or missing address is a common reason authorizations get declined.
2. Call or message your bank. Ask them to allow online/international transactions and 3-D Secure/OTP for GitHub (it charges in USD). Some banks block small verification holds or recurring charges by default.
3. Click "Update payment method" in the banner and re-enter the card, or try a different card or PayPal. A different method often gets past a bank block.
4. Check Settings → Copilot and Billing → Overview to confirm no Copilot subscription is still pending or active, and cancel it if it is. That way nothing tries to charge you again.
5. Re-run the failed job. Once the payment method is accepted, the lock usually clears on its own within a few minutes to a few hours.

If the payment method really is frozen and none of the buttons work, only GitHub can clear the flag on their side. Open a ticket at https://github.com/proxy/support.github.com/contact, choose Billing, and include:

• your username, the repo, and the failed run link
• the exact error: "authorization hold failed" plus "job was not started because your account is locked due to a billing issue"
• that you're on the Free plan, the Copilot trial ended, and there's no balance owed

Support times vary, so I can't promise how fast they'll respond. In the meantime, if you need the site live, you could build it locally and deploy through another host like Cloudflare Pages or Netlify. I wouldn't count on switching Pages to "Deploy from a branch" as a workaround, because that still runs on GitHub's Actions infrastructure and may hit the same lock.

Hope this gets it sorted. Thank You

[kit1211]

Hi @lymtu

@darshankerkar identified the root cause correctly. This is an account billing lock from a failed Copilot trial authorization, not a GitHub Pages or workflow configuration problem.

Why Actions fail on a free public repo:

1. GitHub attempted a card authorization when Copilot trial ended
2. Bank declined the hold (authorization hold failed)
3. Account entered billing.lock state
4. While locked, hosted runners refuse all jobs including free tier Pages builds
5. Usage can show $0 because no charge completed, but lock remains until resolved

Fix path in order:

1. Contact your bank. Approve GitHub authorization holds temporarily or use a different card
2. Settings, Billing and plans, Payment information. Remove frozen card if UI allows, then add a valid card
3. If payment page will not save: open support.github.com, category Billing, attach your screenshots showing authorization hold failed
4. Ask Support to clear billing.lock on account lymtu if no active subscription exists
5. After lock clears, re run workflow run 35441150874 on lymtu.github.io

If you do not want Copilot:

1. Confirm no Copilot subscription active under Settings, Copilot
2. Tell Support you only need Pages on free tier and request lock removal without starting paid plan

Do not create a new GitHub account. Fix billing on lymtu so repo history and Pages URL stay intact.