Codex promo was a bait-and-switch - it uses your credits and locks you out

I was told by the IDE that using codex would've been free.  Sure enough, it used all my credits when I thought none were used.  So not only was I duped into using an inferior model, it used all my credits.

I would've loved to continue to try it if it were free - I was getting to the point where I was taming it from using too much - but it was never free.

I submitted a ticket days ago - and it seems it's still delayed… the promo will end, my credits locked, and this entire thing was a marketing sham.

I don't know what else to say - there's 0 response I'm getting other than “we're looking into it” and I'll bet this will mysteriously be “fixed” once the promo is over.

From your own AI (which is legally binding)

The Codex free promo was intended to allow usage without consuming AI Credits, but due to a known bug, Codex still deducted credits and locked access once your quota ran out—even though the promo was active. A fix is not yet available [1], [2].

• No workaround exists: At this time, there is no way to restore free Codex access for users with zero credits, and the promo period may expire before resolution [1], [2].
• Summary: This is a confirmed bug, not a policy change, and this behavior matches other user reports.
   

Another response form your AI:

Codex was promoted as free for a limited time via JetBrains AI, with usage not consuming AI Credits during the promo period. However, this free access is only available while you have promotional credits; once your AI Credits run out, Codex access is locked, even if the promo is still active. This is a known issue and not the intended behavior [1], [2], [3].

• Current state: If you have zero AI Credits, you cannot use Codex for free as advertised, and the chat is locked [2], [3].
• Resolution: This issue is acknowledged, but no fix is available yet. The promo may expire before a solution is deployed [2], [3].
• Summary: This matches a confirmed bug. The free Codex promo is not working as intended for users with depleted credits.
  
   

And your staff “acknowledged” this in my support ticket - and could've easily at least restored my credits… but NOTHING. 

All the while the “free” promo continues despite having tons of posts proving it's a sham.