diff --git a/apps/sim/app/api/billing/update-cost/route.test.ts b/apps/sim/app/api/billing/update-cost/route.test.ts
index d69abad26b3..15893913840 100644
--- a/apps/sim/app/api/billing/update-cost/route.test.ts
+++ b/apps/sim/app/api/billing/update-cost/route.test.ts
@@ -1040,32 +1040,38 @@ describe('POST /api/billing/update-cost — mid-run usage gate', () => {
       })
     })
 
-    it('never pauses a blocked payer with the usage card', async () => {
-      billingAttributionMockFns.mockCheckAccountBillingBlocks.mockResolvedValue({
-        blocked: true,
-        scope: 'payer',
+    it("offers the card for its admitted payer's plan, not the actor's current one", async () => {
+      billingCoreMockFns.mockGetOrganizationSubscription.mockResolvedValue({
+        id: 'sub-account-org',
+        referenceId: 'account-org',
+        plan: 'team',
+        status: 'active',
+        seats: 4,
+      })
+      billingPlanMockFns.mockGetHighestPrioritySubscription.mockResolvedValue({
+        id: 'sub-personal',
+        referenceId: 'user-1',
+        plan: 'pro',
+        status: 'active',
       })
 
       const body = await (await POST(directCallback())).json()
 
-      expect(body.usageExceeded).toBe(false)
+      expect(body.usageUpgrade).toMatchObject({
+        action: 'increase_limit',
+        message: expect.stringContaining("organization's usage limit"),
+      })
     })
 
-    it('keeps the exceeded verdict with the plan-upgrade card when the card read outlasts the callback budget', async () => {
-      billingPlanMockFns.mockGetHighestPrioritySubscription.mockImplementation(async () => {
-        await sleep(1500)
-        return { plan: 'pro' }
+    it('never pauses a blocked payer with the usage card', async () => {
+      billingAttributionMockFns.mockCheckAccountBillingBlocks.mockResolvedValue({
+        blocked: true,
+        scope: 'payer',
       })
-      const startedAt = Date.now()
 
       const body = await (await POST(directCallback())).json()
 
-      expect(body).toMatchObject({
-        success: true,
-        usageExceeded: true,
-        usageUpgrade: { action: 'upgrade_plan' },
-      })
-      expect(Date.now() - startedAt).toBeLessThan(1400)
+      expect(body.usageExceeded).toBe(false)
     })
   })
 
diff --git a/apps/sim/app/api/billing/update-cost/route.ts b/apps/sim/app/api/billing/update-cost/route.ts
index 2a7bdfda6cd..bec648abdc6 100644
--- a/apps/sim/app/api/billing/update-cost/route.ts
+++ b/apps/sim/app/api/billing/update-cost/route.ts
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ function invalidBillingProtocolResponse(requestId: string, span: Span): NextResp
  * already recorded when this runs; a gate that cannot answer reports not-exceeded and leaves the
  * refusal to the next step or re-check rather than ending a paying run on a database blip,
  * and so does a verdict read that outlasts {@link USAGE_STANDING_TIMEOUT_MS}. An exceeded
- * verdict always pauses the run; a card read past that budget falls back to the plan-upgrade card.
+ * verdict always pauses the run.
  */
 async function readUsageStanding(
   userId: string,
@@ -99,10 +99,9 @@ async function readUsageStanding(
       ? () => readMidRunAccountUsageVerdict(accountDecision)
       : null
   if (!isHosted || !readVerdict) return { usageExceeded: false }
-  const deadlineAt = Date.now() + USAGE_STANDING_TIMEOUT_MS
   let verdict: MidRunUsageVerdict
   try {
-    verdict = await withinDeadline(readVerdict, deadlineAt)
+    verdict = await withinDeadline(readVerdict, Date.now() + USAGE_STANDING_TIMEOUT_MS)
   } catch {
     logger.warn('Usage standing read outlasted the callback budget; answering not exceeded')
     return { usageExceeded: false }
@@ -114,9 +113,8 @@ async function readUsageStanding(
     usageExceeded: true,
     usageUpgrade: await resolveUsageUpgradePayload(
       userId,
-      billingAttribution,
-      verdict.scope,
-      deadlineAt
+      billingAttribution ?? verdict.payer,
+      verdict.scope
     ),
   }
 }
diff --git a/apps/sim/app/api/copilot/api-keys/validate/route.test.ts b/apps/sim/app/api/copilot/api-keys/validate/route.test.ts
index f9a88e61d3f..9c2188b9ac8 100644
--- a/apps/sim/app/api/copilot/api-keys/validate/route.test.ts
+++ b/apps/sim/app/api/copilot/api-keys/validate/route.test.ts
@@ -140,7 +140,10 @@ vi.mock('@/lib/workspaces/permissions/utils', () => permissionsMock)
 
 vi.mock('@/lib/workspaces/utils', () => workspacesUtilsMock)
 
-import { validateCopilotApiKeyBodySchema } from '@/lib/api/contracts/copilot'
+import {
+  validateCopilotApiKeyBodySchema,
+  validateCopilotApiKeyContract,
+} from '@/lib/api/contracts/copilot'
 import { resetMidRunUsageCaches } from '@/lib/billing/core/mid-run-usage'
 import { resetUsageGateCache } from '@/lib/billing/core/usage-gate-cache'
 import { POST } from '@/app/api/copilot/api-keys/validate/route'
@@ -248,6 +251,17 @@ describe('POST /api/copilot/api-keys/validate billing protocols', () => {
     expect(mockCheckServerSideUsageLimits).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  it("sends a new turn's usage refusal as the empty 402 its contract declares", async () => {
+    mockCheckAttributedUsageLimits.mockResolvedValue({ isExceeded: true, scope: 'payer' })
+
+    const res = await POST(request(SELF_HOSTED_VALIDATE_BODY))
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(402)
+    expect(await res.text()).toBe('')
+    const refusalSchema = validateCopilotApiKeyContract.response.statusSchemas?.[402]
+    expect(refusalSchema?.safeParse(undefined).success).toBe(true)
+  })
+
   it('preserves the actor member cap for markerless self-hosted admission', async () => {
     mockCheckAttributedUsageLimits.mockResolvedValue({
       isExceeded: true,
@@ -593,6 +607,28 @@ describe('validation lifecycle purposes', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it("refuses a direct-v1 continuation with the card for its admitted payer's plan", async () => {
+    mockCheckUsageStatus.mockResolvedValue({ isExceeded: true, currentUsage: 12, limit: 10 })
+    mockGetOrganizationSubscription.mockResolvedValue({
+      id: 'sub-account-org',
+      referenceId: 'account-org',
+      plan: 'team',
+      status: 'active',
+      seats: 4,
+    })
+    mockGetHighestPrioritySubscription.mockResolvedValue(null)
+
+    const response = await POST(request(body, directHeaders))
+
+    expect(response.status).toBe(402)
+    await expect(response.json()).resolves.toMatchObject({
+      usageUpgrade: {
+        action: 'increase_limit',
+        message: expect.stringContaining("organization's usage limit"),
+      },
+    })
+  })
+
   it('admits a direct-v1 continuation whose usage cannot be read', async () => {
     mockCheckUsageStatus.mockResolvedValue({ isExceeded: true, unavailable: true })
     expect((await POST(request(body, directHeaders))).status).toBe(200)
diff --git a/apps/sim/app/api/copilot/api-keys/validate/route.ts b/apps/sim/app/api/copilot/api-keys/validate/route.ts
index 8723a9d5c90..0a1373dea56 100644
--- a/apps/sim/app/api/copilot/api-keys/validate/route.ts
+++ b/apps/sim/app/api/copilot/api-keys/validate/route.ts
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ export const POST = withRouteHandler((req: NextRequest) =>
             span.setAttribute(TraceAttr.HttpStatusCode, 402)
             const usageUpgrade = await resolveUsageUpgradePayload(
               userId,
-              billing?.kind === 'attributed' ? billing.attribution : undefined,
+              billing?.kind === 'attributed' ? billing.attribution : verdict.payer,
               verdict.scope
             )
             return NextResponse.json<ValidateCopilotApiKeyUsageExceeded>(
diff --git a/apps/sim/lib/api/contracts/copilot.ts b/apps/sim/lib/api/contracts/copilot.ts
index 66ba38ec119..5989ca03b4e 100644
--- a/apps/sim/lib/api/contracts/copilot.ts
+++ b/apps/sim/lib/api/contracts/copilot.ts
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ export const validateCopilotApiKeyContract = defineRouteContract({
     status: [200, 402],
     statusSchemas: {
       200: validateCopilotApiKeyResponseSchema,
-      402: validateCopilotApiKeyRefusalSchema,
+      402: validateCopilotApiKeyRefusalSchema.optional(),
     },
   },
   error: validateCopilotApiKeyErrorSchema,
diff --git a/apps/sim/lib/billing/core/mid-run-usage.ts b/apps/sim/lib/billing/core/mid-run-usage.ts
index 36ea034f81e..96393ba26bc 100644
--- a/apps/sim/lib/billing/core/mid-run-usage.ts
+++ b/apps/sim/lib/billing/core/mid-run-usage.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   USAGE_GATE_SETTLE_TIMEOUT_MS,
   USAGE_GATE_TTL_MS,
 } from '@/lib/billing/core/usage-gate-cache'
+import type { UsageUpgradePayer } from '@/lib/billing/usage-upgrade'
 import { coalesceLocally } from '@/lib/concurrency/singleflight'
 import { isBillingEnabled, isHosted } from '@/lib/core/config/env-flags'
 
@@ -26,7 +27,8 @@ const logger = createLogger('MidRunUsage')
 /**
  * A run's standing while it is under way, read through the execution usage gate:
  * - `exceeded`: the payer (or the actor's member cap) spent its limit; the run pauses with the
- *   upgrade card.
+ *   upgrade card. A direct-v1 verdict carries the payer it read, so the card names that payer's
+ *   plan rather than the actor's.
  * - `blocked`: the account is blocked (payment failed, dispute); the run is refused as a blocked
  *   account, never with the upgrade card.
  * - `unknown`: usage, or the payer's current period, could not be read. Admission fails closed
@@ -35,7 +37,11 @@ const logger = createLogger('MidRunUsage')
  */
 export type MidRunUsageVerdict =
   | { status: 'within' }
-  | { status: 'exceeded'; scope?: AttributedUsageLimitsResult['scope'] }
+  | {
+      status: 'exceeded'
+      scope?: AttributedUsageLimitsResult['scope']
+      payer?: UsageUpgradePayer
+    }
   | { status: 'blocked'; message?: string }
   | { status: 'unknown' }
 
@@ -213,7 +219,13 @@ export async function readMidRunAccountUsageVerdict(
       USAGE_GATE_SETTLE_TIMEOUT_MS
     )
     if (usage.unavailable) return { status: 'unknown' }
-    if (usage.isExceeded) return { status: 'exceeded', scope: 'payer' }
+    if (usage.isExceeded) {
+      return {
+        status: 'exceeded',
+        scope: 'payer',
+        payer: { billingEntity: payer, payerSubscription: subscription },
+      }
+    }
     const within: MidRunUsageVerdict = { status: 'within' }
     accountVerdictCache.set(key, within)
     return within
diff --git a/apps/sim/lib/billing/usage-upgrade.ts b/apps/sim/lib/billing/usage-upgrade.ts
index 95cf5813539..ceee5e1fe9e 100644
--- a/apps/sim/lib/billing/usage-upgrade.ts
+++ b/apps/sim/lib/billing/usage-upgrade.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,11 @@
 import { createLogger } from '@sim/logger'
 import { getErrorMessage } from '@sim/utils/errors'
 import type { UsageUpgradePayload } from '@/lib/api/contracts/subscription'
-import type {
-  AttributedUsageLimitsResult,
-  BillingAttributionSnapshot,
-} from '@/lib/billing/core/billing-attribution'
+import type { AttributedUsageLimitsResult } from '@/lib/billing/core/billing-attribution'
 import { getHighestPrioritySubscription } from '@/lib/billing/core/plan'
+import type { BillingEntity } from '@/lib/billing/core/usage-log'
 import { isEnterprise, isPaid } from '@/lib/billing/plan-helpers'
 import { isOrgScopedSubscription } from '@/lib/billing/subscriptions/utils'
-import { withinDeadline } from '@/lib/core/utils/deadline'
 
 const logger = createLogger('UsageUpgrade')
 
@@ -18,19 +15,26 @@ const UPGRADE_PLAN_MESSAGE =
 const MEMBER_CAP_MESSAGE =
   "You've reached the usage limit your organization set for you this billing period. Only an organization owner or admin can raise it — please ask them to continue."
 
+/**
+ * The payer a run is billed to, as the upgrade card needs it: its billing entity and its
+ * subscription's plan. An attribution snapshot is one; a direct-v1 run's mid-run verdict carries one.
+ */
+export interface UsageUpgradePayer {
+  readonly billingEntity: Readonly<BillingEntity>
+  readonly payerSubscription: { readonly plan: string } | null
+}
+
 /**
  * The upgrade card for a payer over its usage limit: a plan upgrade for a free payer, a limit
  * increase for a paid one, with copy naming who can raise an organization's limit. A member
- * over the cap their organization set gets copy naming who can raise that cap. An attributed
- * run reads the plan from its admission snapshot without a query; otherwise the actor's current
- * subscription decides, and a lookup that fails or outlasts `deadlineAt` falls back to the
- * plan-upgrade card.
+ * over the cap their organization set gets copy naming who can raise that cap. A known payer
+ * decides the card without a query; otherwise the actor's current subscription decides, and a
+ * lookup that fails falls back to the plan-upgrade card.
  */
 export async function resolveUsageUpgradePayload(
   userId: string,
-  billingAttribution?: BillingAttributionSnapshot,
-  scope?: AttributedUsageLimitsResult['scope'],
-  deadlineAt?: number
+  payer?: UsageUpgradePayer,
+  scope?: AttributedUsageLimitsResult['scope']
 ): Promise<UsageUpgradePayload> {
   if (scope === 'member') {
     return { reason: 'usage_limit', action: 'increase_limit', message: MEMBER_CAP_MESSAGE }
@@ -38,13 +42,11 @@ export async function resolveUsageUpgradePayload(
   let plan: string | undefined
   let orgScoped = false
   try {
-    if (billingAttribution) {
-      plan = billingAttribution.payerSubscription?.plan
-      orgScoped = billingAttribution.billingEntity.type === 'organization'
+    if (payer) {
+      plan = payer.payerSubscription?.plan
+      orgScoped = payer.billingEntity.type === 'organization'
     } else {
-      const subscription = await (deadlineAt === undefined
-        ? getHighestPrioritySubscription(userId)
-        : withinDeadline(() => getHighestPrioritySubscription(userId), deadlineAt))
+      const subscription = await getHighestPrioritySubscription(userId)
       plan = subscription?.plan
       orgScoped = isOrgScopedSubscription(subscription, userId)
     }