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

A significant glitch has been discovered in Claude Code's billing system, where API requests route to “extra usage” billing when HERMES.md is included in git commit messages. This oversight led to unanticipated costs, amounting to over $200 in extra credits, despite the user's Max 20x plan showing ample capacity. The issue arises not from the existence of a file named HERMES.md but from the presence of this exact string in previous commit messages, which affects the routing of requests and can cause multiple projects to become unusable once extra usage credits are depleted. This incident underscores a critical flaw in the billing process, where commit message content unintentionally influences resource consumption. Users may face unexpected charges without clarity, as the error message does not indicate the content-related cause, complicating diagnosis. The expectation is that all requests from Max plan users should automatically draw from their plan quota, irrespective of commit message content. This example highlights the importance of robust billing frameworks in AI services, aiming to enhance reliability and user trust in these systems.