diff --git a/agent/error_classifier.py b/agent/error_classifier.py
index d28ddb0602..dd330863e3 100644
--- a/agent/error_classifier.py
+++ b/agent/error_classifier.py
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ _BILLING_PATTERNS = [
     "credit balance",
     "credits exhausted",
     "credits have been exhausted",
+    "requires available credits",
+    "account balance is too low",
     "no usable credits",
     "top up your credits",
     "payment required",
diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index ffb7ac93f8..abf48e320f 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -1078,6 +1078,67 @@ def _has_any_provider_configured() -> bool:
     return False
 
 
+def _confirm_startup_expensive_model_override(args) -> None:
+    """Guard startup -m/--provider overrides before the first API call."""
+    explicit_model = (getattr(args, "model", None) or "").strip()
+    explicit_provider = (getattr(args, "provider", None) or "").strip()
+    if not explicit_model and not explicit_provider:
+        return
+
+    try:
+        from hermes_cli.config import load_config
+        from hermes_cli.model_cost_guard import expensive_model_warning
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.warning("startup model cost guard unavailable: %s", exc)
+        return
+
+    try:
+        model_cfg = (load_config().get("model") or {})
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.warning("startup model cost guard could not load config: %s", exc)
+        model_cfg = {}
+    if not isinstance(model_cfg, dict):
+        model_cfg = {}
+
+    model = explicit_model or (model_cfg.get("default") or "").strip()
+    if not model:
+        return
+    provider = (explicit_provider or model_cfg.get("provider") or "").strip()
+    try:
+        warning = expensive_model_warning(
+            model,
+            provider=provider,
+            base_url=(model_cfg.get("base_url") or ""),
+            api_key=(model_cfg.get("api_key") or ""),
+        )
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.warning("startup model cost guard failed for %s/%s: %s", provider, model, exc)
+        return
+    if warning is None:
+        return
+
+    # Cost and provider-routing confirmation is intentionally independent of
+    # --yolo / --accept-hooks: those flags approve local command/tool risk, not
+    # paid aggregator spend or a surprising provider route.
+    message = warning.message
+    if not sys.stdin.isatty():
+        sys.stderr.write(message + "\n")
+        sys.stderr.write(
+            "Refusing this startup model override in non-interactive mode. "
+            "Run interactively and confirm if you intend to use it.\n"
+        )
+        raise SystemExit(1)
+
+    sys.stderr.write(message + "\n")
+    try:
+        reply = input("Use this model for this invocation? [y/N] ").strip().lower()
+    except (EOFError, KeyboardInterrupt):
+        reply = ""
+    if reply not in {"y", "yes"}:
+        sys.stderr.write("Model override cancelled.\n")
+        raise SystemExit(1)
+
+
 def _session_browse_picker(sessions: list) -> Optional[str]:
     """Interactive curses-based session browser with live search filtering.
 
@@ -2743,6 +2804,7 @@ def cmd_chat(args):
         os.environ["HERMES_SESSION_SOURCE"] = args.source
 
     _pin_kanban_board_env()
+    _confirm_startup_expensive_model_override(args)
 
     if use_tui:
         _launch_tui(
@@ -11227,6 +11289,7 @@ def _try_termux_fast_cli_launch() -> bool:
 
     if getattr(args, "oneshot", None):
         _prepare_agent_startup(args)
+        _confirm_startup_expensive_model_override(args)
         _run_and_exit_oneshot(
             args.oneshot,
             model=getattr(args, "model", None),
@@ -12921,6 +12984,7 @@ def main():
     # Handle top-level --oneshot / -z: single-shot mode, stdout = final
     # response only, nothing else. Bypasses cli.py entirely.
     if getattr(args, "oneshot", None):
+        _confirm_startup_expensive_model_override(args)
         _run_and_exit_oneshot(
             args.oneshot,
             model=getattr(args, "model", None),
diff --git a/hermes_cli/model_cost_guard.py b/hermes_cli/model_cost_guard.py
index c3a327cde0..1ed8835b5b 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/model_cost_guard.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/model_cost_guard.py
@@ -147,13 +147,15 @@ def expensive_model_warning(
             output_cost = entry.output_cost_per_million
             source = entry.source
 
+    is_known_gpt55_pro_confusion = model.lower() == GPT55_PRO_OPENROUTER_ID
+
     over_input = (
         input_cost is not None and input_cost > INPUT_COST_WARNING_THRESHOLD
     )
     over_output = (
         output_cost is not None and output_cost > OUTPUT_COST_WARNING_THRESHOLD
     )
-    if not over_input and not over_output:
+    if not over_input and not over_output and not is_known_gpt55_pro_confusion:
         return None
 
     lines = [
@@ -169,7 +171,7 @@ def expensive_model_warning(
     ]
     if source:
         lines.append(f"Pricing source: {source}.")
-    if model.lower() == GPT55_PRO_OPENROUTER_ID:
+    if is_known_gpt55_pro_confusion:
         lines.append(GPT55_SUGGESTION)
     lines.append("Confirm only if you intend to use this model.")
 
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_error_classifier.py b/tests/agent/test_error_classifier.py
index d2e5a19421..f27507ed9d 100644
--- a/tests/agent/test_error_classifier.py
+++ b/tests/agent/test_error_classifier.py
@@ -231,6 +231,38 @@ class TestClassifyApiError:
         assert result.retryable is False
         assert result.should_fallback is True
 
+    def test_404_requires_available_credits_is_billing(self):
+        e = MockAPIError(
+            "Not Found",
+            status_code=404,
+            body={
+                "status": 404,
+                "message": (
+                    "Model 'openai/gpt-5.5-pro' requires available credits. "
+                    "Your account balance is too low to use paid models — "
+                    "add credits at https://portal.nousresearch.com or pick a free model."
+                ),
+            },
+        )
+        result = classify_api_error(e, provider="nous", model="openai/gpt-5.5-pro")
+        assert result.reason == FailoverReason.billing
+        assert result.retryable is False
+        assert result.should_fallback is True
+
+    def test_wrapped_402_uses_nested_body_message(self):
+        inner = MockAPIError(
+            "inner",
+            status_code=402,
+            body={"error": {"message": "Usage limit reached, try again in 5 minutes"}},
+        )
+        outer = Exception("outer")
+        outer.__cause__ = inner
+
+        result = classify_api_error(outer)
+
+        assert result.reason == FailoverReason.rate_limit
+        assert result.retryable is True
+        assert result.message == "Usage limit reached, try again in 5 minutes"
 
     # ── Rate limit ──
 
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_cli_startup_model_cost_guard.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_cli_startup_model_cost_guard.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..341ad3aa73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_cli_startup_model_cost_guard.py
@@ -0,0 +1,209 @@
+from argparse import Namespace
+import sys
+import types
+
+import pytest
+
+
+class _NonInteractiveStdin:
+    def isatty(self):
+        return False
+
+
+def _chat_args(**overrides):
+    base = {
+        "continue_last": None,
+        "model": None,
+        "provider": None,
+        "resume": None,
+        "no_restore_cwd": False,
+        "toolsets": None,
+        "skills": None,
+        "tui": False,
+        "tui_dev": False,
+        "cli": True,
+        "verbose": None,
+        "quiet": True,
+        "query": "hello",
+        "image": None,
+        "worktree": False,
+        "checkpoints": False,
+        "pass_session_id": False,
+        "max_turns": None,
+        "ignore_rules": False,
+        "ignore_user_config": False,
+        "safe_mode": False,
+        "compact": False,
+        "source": None,
+        "yolo": False,
+        "accept_hooks": False,
+    }
+    base.update(overrides)
+    return Namespace(**base)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def main_mod(monkeypatch):
+    import hermes_cli.main as mod
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(mod, "_has_any_provider_configured", lambda: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(mod, "_sync_bundled_skills_for_startup", lambda: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(mod, "_termux_should_prefetch_update_check", lambda: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(mod, "_pin_kanban_board_env", lambda: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(mod, "_resolve_session_by_name_or_id", lambda val: val)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(mod, "_oneshot_cleanup_done", False)
+    return mod
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def fake_cli(monkeypatch):
+    captured = {}
+
+    def fake_cli_main(**kwargs):
+        captured.update(kwargs)
+
+    monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "cli", types.SimpleNamespace(main=fake_cli_main))
+    return captured
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def codex_config(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "hermes_cli.config.load_config",
+        lambda: {
+            "model": {
+                "provider": "openai-codex",
+                "default": "gpt-5.5",
+                "base_url": "https://chatgpt.com/backend-api/codex",
+            }
+        },
+    )
+
+
+def test_cmd_chat_rejects_noninteractive_gpt55_pro_startup_override(
+    main_mod, fake_cli, codex_config, monkeypatch, capsys
+):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "stdin", _NonInteractiveStdin())
+
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as excinfo:
+        main_mod.cmd_chat(_chat_args(model="openai/gpt-5.5-pro"))
+
+    assert excinfo.value.code == 1
+    assert not fake_cli
+    err = capsys.readouterr().err
+    assert "EXPENSIVE MODEL WARNING" in err
+    assert "did you mean to select openai/gpt-5.5?" in err
+    assert "non-interactive" in err
+
+
+def test_cmd_chat_rejects_noninteractive_gpt55_pro_even_with_yolo(
+    main_mod, fake_cli, codex_config, monkeypatch, capsys
+):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "stdin", _NonInteractiveStdin())
+
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as excinfo:
+        main_mod.cmd_chat(_chat_args(model="openai/gpt-5.5-pro", yolo=True))
+
+    assert excinfo.value.code == 1
+    assert not fake_cli
+    assert "EXPENSIVE MODEL WARNING" in capsys.readouterr().err
+
+
+def test_cmd_chat_allows_interactive_gpt55_pro_when_confirmed(
+    main_mod, fake_cli, codex_config, monkeypatch
+):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys.stdin, "isatty", lambda: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("builtins.input", lambda _prompt: "yes")
+
+    main_mod.cmd_chat(_chat_args(model="openai/gpt-5.5-pro"))
+
+    assert fake_cli["model"] == "openai/gpt-5.5-pro"
+
+
+def test_cmd_chat_cancels_interactive_gpt55_pro_when_not_confirmed(
+    main_mod, fake_cli, codex_config, monkeypatch, capsys
+):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys.stdin, "isatty", lambda: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("builtins.input", lambda _prompt: "n")
+
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as excinfo:
+        main_mod.cmd_chat(_chat_args(model="openai/gpt-5.5-pro"))
+
+    assert excinfo.value.code == 1
+    assert not fake_cli
+    assert "Model override cancelled" in capsys.readouterr().err
+
+
+def test_cmd_chat_cancels_interactive_gpt55_pro_on_eof(
+    main_mod, fake_cli, codex_config, monkeypatch, capsys
+):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys.stdin, "isatty", lambda: True)
+
+    def raise_eof(_prompt):
+        raise EOFError
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("builtins.input", raise_eof)
+
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as excinfo:
+        main_mod.cmd_chat(_chat_args(model="openai/gpt-5.5-pro"))
+
+    assert excinfo.value.code == 1
+    assert not fake_cli
+    assert "Model override cancelled" in capsys.readouterr().err
+
+
+def test_cmd_chat_rejects_noninteractive_provider_only_override_when_default_is_expensive(
+    main_mod, fake_cli, monkeypatch, capsys
+):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "stdin", _NonInteractiveStdin())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "hermes_cli.config.load_config",
+        lambda: {"model": {"provider": "openai-codex", "default": "openai/gpt-5.5-pro"}},
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as excinfo:
+        main_mod.cmd_chat(_chat_args(model=None, provider="nous"))
+
+    assert excinfo.value.code == 1
+    assert not fake_cli
+    assert "EXPENSIVE MODEL WARNING" in capsys.readouterr().err
+
+
+def test_cmd_chat_allows_noninteractive_safe_codex_startup_override(
+    main_mod, fake_cli, monkeypatch
+):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "stdin", _NonInteractiveStdin())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "hermes_cli.config.load_config",
+        lambda: {"model": {"provider": "openai-codex", "default": "gpt-5.5"}},
+    )
+
+    main_mod.cmd_chat(_chat_args(model="gpt-5.5", provider="openai-codex"))
+
+    assert fake_cli["model"] == "gpt-5.5"
+    assert fake_cli["provider"] == "openai-codex"
+
+
+def test_top_level_oneshot_rejects_noninteractive_gpt55_pro_startup_override(
+    main_mod, codex_config, monkeypatch, capsys
+):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "stdin", _NonInteractiveStdin())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", ["hermes", "-z", "hello", "-m", "openai/gpt-5.5-pro"])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main_mod, "_prepare_agent_startup", lambda _args: None)
+
+    called = False
+
+    def fake_run_and_exit_oneshot(*_args, **_kwargs):
+        nonlocal called
+        called = True
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main_mod, "_run_and_exit_oneshot", fake_run_and_exit_oneshot)
+
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as excinfo:
+        main_mod.main()
+
+    assert excinfo.value.code == 1
+    assert called is False
+    err = capsys.readouterr().err
+    assert "EXPENSIVE MODEL WARNING" in err
+    assert "non-interactive" in err
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_cost_guard.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_cost_guard.py
index acf20347b2..c346f2ef7f 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_cost_guard.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_cost_guard.py
@@ -122,6 +122,18 @@ def test_openai_gpt55_pro_adds_suggestion(monkeypatch):
     assert "did you mean to select openai/gpt-5.5?" in warning.message
 
 
+def test_openai_gpt55_pro_warns_even_without_pricing(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr("agent.models_dev.get_model_info", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("agent.usage_pricing.get_pricing_entry", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: None)
+
+    warning = expensive_model_warning("openai/gpt-5.5-pro", provider="openai-codex")
+
+    assert warning is not None
+    assert warning.input_cost_per_million is None
+    assert warning.output_cost_per_million is None
+    assert "did you mean to select openai/gpt-5.5?" in warning.message
+
+
 def test_openai_gpt55_pro_warns_for_nous_portal_pricing(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr("agent.models_dev.get_model_info", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: None)
     monkeypatch.setattr(