HubSpot Marketing Contacts Overage Charge

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Set a maximum marketing contacts limit

   Copy steps
   1. Account name > Account & Billing > Marketing Contacts
   2. Under Maximum Marketing Contacts click Set maximum, enter a number, Confirm
   3. Once reached, imports and automation set extra contacts as non-marketing. Needs Super Admin or Modify Billing permission
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Move unengaged contacts to non-marketing before the update date

   Copy steps
   1. Build a list of contacts you won't email next period
   2. Use bulk Set as non-marketing on them
   3. Do it before your update date; changes land on that date
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Check what sets contacts to marketing automatically

   Copy steps
   1. Review forms, imports and integrations that flag new contacts as marketing
   2. Limit who has permission to set contacts as marketing
   3. Delay marking new contacts as marketing until after the update date unless you will email them
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Watch usage before it bites

   Copy steps
   1. Account & Billing > Marketing Contacts shows current count, next update date and usage chart
   2. Billing contacts get notices at 75%, 90%, 98% and when you exceed the tier (24-48 hours delay)
   3. Create the default Marketing Contacts dashboard under Reporting > Dashboards
   Did this fix it? Yes No

5. 5. Negotiate before renewal

   Copy steps
   1. Downgrade only happens at renewal; contact your Contract Manager (or open an email ticket on Starter) at least five business days before
   2. Ask for a lower tier based on your cleaned list
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

A bill jumped after an import or list growth, HubSpot says you are on a higher contact tier, and deleting contacts didn't lower the price.

Why it happens

• Contacts count as marketing when set to marketing manually, by import, forms or integrations
• Exceeding the tier triggers an automatic upgrade to the next tier
• Tiers only downgrade at renewal, not mid-term
• Status changes to non-marketing apply on the update date (1st of each month on yearly plans)

This guide also covers

• hubspot marketing contacts overage
• hubspot charged extra contacts
• hubspot marketing contacts billing
• hubspot contact tier upgrade

The same problem in other apps

All billing, cancellation & refunds guides →

• How to Cancel Pipedrive Subscription (Pipedrive)
• How to Cancel Salesforce Subscription (Salesforce)
• How to Cancel Zoho CRM Subscription (Zoho CRM)

Other HubSpot errors

• How to Cancel HubSpot Subscription
• HubSpot Import Errors
• HubSpot Workflow Not Enrolling Contacts
• HubSpot Emails Going to Spam
• HubSpot Gmail or Outlook Inbox Disconnected
• HubSpot Form Not Showing on Website
• HubSpot Salesforce Sync Errors
• HubSpot Sequence Error: Contact Can't Be Enrolled