diff --git a/src/components/SasquatchGuide.tsx b/src/components/SasquatchGuide.tsx
index b241206..89aadb6 100644
--- a/src/components/SasquatchGuide.tsx
+++ b/src/components/SasquatchGuide.tsx
@@ -961,7 +961,9 @@ export function SasquatchGuide({ message, onDismiss }: SasquatchGuideProps) {
       let usedCVM = false;
       let liveTs = 0;               // timestamp of the streaming bubble (0 = none)
       let streamSuppressed = false; // output looks like a JSON tool call — never render it
-      try {
+      // AI answers are a Pro feature. Free users skip this entirely and fall
+      // through to the static FAQ, glossary and local relay lookups below.
+      if (isPro) try {
         // The system prompt goes in a real `system` message rather than being
         // smuggled into a user turn — the model then treats the relay/derived
         // text below as lower-trust input, blunting prompt-injection via event
@@ -1340,7 +1342,10 @@ Instructions:
         const fallback =
           staticAnswer ??
           answerFromGlossary(question) ??
-          `My AI brain's catching some air right now 🦧 — but I've still got you:\n\n• 🗺️ [Map](/) — spots, shops, events near you\n• 🧪 [The Lab](/lab) — coaches, filmers, editors\n• 📖 [Glossary](/glossary) — 150+ tricks & terms\n• 👥 [Crews](/crews) — find your people\n\nOr just tell me a **city** ("spots in Barcelona") or a **trick** ("what's a nollie") and I'll answer straight up. 🛹`;
+          (!isPro
+            ? // Free tier: no AI. Nudge to Pro, but point at what still works.
+              "That one needs AI reasoning — a **Sasquatch Pro** feature ⚡🦧\n\nI can still find **spots, events, coaches, crews, shops, tours and gear** straight from the relays — ask me e.g. \"spots in Barcelona\" — and the [Glossary](/glossary) covers 150+ tricks & terms. Tap **⚡ Go Pro** up top to unlock AI answers."
+            : `My AI brain's catching some air right now 🦧 — but I've still got you:\n\n• 🗺️ [Map](/) — spots, shops, events near you\n• 🧪 [The Lab](/lab) — coaches, filmers, editors\n• 📖 [Glossary](/glossary) — 150+ tricks & terms\n• 👥 [Crews](/crews) — find your people\n\nOr just tell me a **city** ("spots in Barcelona") or a **trick** ("what's a nollie") and I'll answer straight up. 🛹`);
         appendMessage({ role: 'sasquatch', text: fallback, timestamp: Date.now() });
       }
     } catch (err) {
diff --git a/src/hooks/useSasquatchPro.ts b/src/hooks/useSasquatchPro.ts
index 4bacc7d..d1dbe04 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useSasquatchPro.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useSasquatchPro.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import { useCurrentUser } from '@/hooks/useCurrentUser';
 import { PLATFORM_OWNER_PUBKEYS } from '@/hooks/useListingRestrictions';
 import { getZapProviderPubkey } from '@/lib/lightningAddress';
 import { getSatoshisFromBolt11 } from '@/lib/bolt11';
-import { PRO_LIGHTNING_ADDRESS, PRO_TIERS } from '@/lib/sasquatchPro';
+import { PRO_LIGHTNING_ADDRESS, PRO_TIERS, DAY_SECONDS } from '@/lib/sasquatchPro';
 import type { NostrEvent } from '@nostrify/nostrify';
 
 const PLATFORM_PUBKEY = PLATFORM_OWNER_PUBKEYS[0];
@@ -103,8 +103,13 @@ function expiryFromZapReceipt(
   }
   if (paidSats < MIN_PRO_SATS) return null;
 
-  const exp = Number(tagVal(zapReq.tags, 'pro-expiry'));
-  return Number.isFinite(exp) && exp > 0 ? exp : null;
+  // Enforce the tier from what was ACTUALLY paid. Never trust the user-signed
+  // `pro-expiry` tag — that let a 7-day payment self-assert a year. Pick the
+  // largest tier the payment covers and run the pass from when the receipt was
+  // issued (so paying later genuinely extends access).
+  const tier = [...PRO_TIERS].sort((a, b) => b.sats - a.sats).find((t) => paidSats >= t.sats);
+  if (!tier) return null;
+  return receipt.created_at + tier.days * DAY_SECONDS;
 }
 
 export function useSasquatchPro(): ProStatus {