Tell HN: Dont use Claude Design, lost access to my projects after unsubscribing

TL;DR

A user on Hacker News shared that they lost access to their Claude Design projects after unsubscribing from the service. This is the first confirmed report of such an issue, prompting questions about data retention policies.

A user has reported on Hacker News that they lost access to their Claude Design projects after unsubscribing from the service, marking the first confirmed instance of this issue.

The user, identified as ‘pycassa,’ stated that after ending their subscription, they could no longer access their previous projects on Claude Design. They noted that they had previously used credits tied to their subscription, which they lost access to after cancellation, despite having resubscribed. This issue appears to be specific to their account and is not a widespread confirmation at this time.

The user expressed frustration, noting that they had not experienced similar issues with other large language model (LLM) services and highlighted concerns about complex billing and usage policies that may contribute to such problems. They also mentioned attempts to contact support and tag the service on social media without resolution.

Why It Matters

This report raises questions about data retention and account management practices by Claude Design, a service that offers AI-powered design tools. If users lose access to their projects after unsubscribing, it could impact trust and usability, especially for professionals relying on persistent data storage. The incident underscores the importance of clear policies regarding user data and account access after subscription changes.

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Background

Claude Design is part of a growing ecosystem of AI tools for creative and technical work. While the platform’s core features are generally praised, issues related to billing, credit management, and data access are emerging as concerns among users. This incident is the first publicly reported case of project access loss following subscription cancellation, but it may indicate broader issues with account handling or data retention policies.

“I wanted to try codex after 5 months of claude code max subscription. And then I went back to my previous projects on claude design only to realize I don’t have access to them anymore.”

— pycassa, Hacker News user

“Even after resubscribing, I still don’t have access to those credits.”

— pycassa, Hacker News user

“Having worked at a billing company, I can see how complex contracts sound good for sales but are horrible for engineers implementing them.”

— pycassa, Hacker News user

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What Remains Unclear

It is not yet clear whether this issue is isolated to the user’s account or if it reflects a broader problem with Claude Design’s data retention and account management policies. The company has not publicly addressed this specific incident, and support responses remain unverified.

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What’s Next

Further investigation is needed to determine if other users are experiencing similar issues. Claude Design may issue a statement or update their policies regarding data access after subscription cancellations. Users are advised to monitor official channels for updates.

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Key Questions

Is this issue specific to this user or affecting others?

It is currently only confirmed for this user, but the situation warrants further investigation to determine if others are affected.

Will I lose access to my projects if I cancel my subscription?

It is unclear whether this is a policy or a bug. Users should review Claude Design’s terms or contact support for clarification before unsubscribing.

Has the company responded to this incident?

No public statement has been issued by Claude Design regarding this specific case at this time.

Can I recover my projects after losing access?

Recovery options are unknown; affected users should contact support promptly to inquire about data retrieval.

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