ACCOUNT_LACKS_PERMISSIONS error when creating enve

Question

I am getting this error when creating an envelope

DocuSign.eSign.Client.ApiException: Error calling CreateEnvelope: { "errorCode": "ACCOUNT_LACKS_PERMISSIONS", "message": "This Account lacks sufficient permissions. In-Session permission required when specifying a captive recipient." }

The problem occurs in the CreateEnvelope method when specifying a ClientUserId on the role which according to the Docusign documentation makes the recipient "embedded".

Docusign Support was unable to help and told me to post the problem here.

The odd thing is I have two accounts and this works on one of them. The working account is a Business plan and the one with the error is a Professional plan.

Is this a setting issue or a licensing level issue?

Answer 1

I called Docusign Support. They changed a setting called In Session to Enabled in API section near limiter that only the account manager or tier 2 support can change. All is well.

Answer 2

Unless something's changed recently on the DocuSign side, there's a setting that DocuSign (either Support or your Account Manager, if you have one) can enable for your account such that you're allowed to create envelopes with embedded recipients via the API. If you're using an account in the DocuSign "Demo" environment (i.e., developer sandbox), then this setting should be enabled by default. But in the Production environment you'll likely need DocuSign to enable this setting for you. Here's a related (old, but likely still relevant) post that describes the same issue and suggested resolution:

DocuSign error: This Account lacks sufficient permissions. In-Session permission required when specifying a captive recipient

If/when you contact DocuSign support again, you may want to have them review that post, so that they'll have more context as to why you're receiving the error. They're in the habit of referring folks to Stack Overflow for all API-related questions , but in rare cases (like this one), someone at DocuSign needs to update an account setting to resolve the API error.