diff --git a/docs/commands.md b/docs/commands.md
index 7f65e8a..3609ba3 100644
--- a/docs/commands.md
+++ b/docs/commands.md
@@ -850,17 +850,18 @@ dm lists remove list_abc123 --ids 111,222,333
 
 #### `dm lists export <id>`
 
-Export list items. Credits are charged per record.
+Export items from a completed list. A person-anchored export uses credits for distinct people your organization has not already unlocked this cycle.
 
 ```bash
-dm lists export list_abc123
+dm lists export list_abc123 --require-phone
 dm lists export list_abc123 --fields "full_address,estimated_value,owner_name" --anchor property
 ```
 
 | Option            | Description                              |
 | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
 | `--fields <csv>`  | Comma-separated list of fields to export |
-| `--anchor <type>` | `property` or `person`                   |
+| `--anchor <type>` | `property` or `person` (default)         |
+| `--require-phone` | Only export people with a phone number   |
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/src/commands/lists.ts b/src/commands/lists.ts
index 9f71018..896b906 100644
--- a/src/commands/lists.ts
+++ b/src/commands/lists.ts
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ export async function listsRemove(
 
 export async function listsExport(
   listId: string,
-  options: { fields?: string; anchor?: string; json?: boolean }
+  options: { fields?: string; anchor?: string; requirePhone?: boolean; json?: boolean }
 ): Promise<void> {
   const requestBody: Record<string, unknown> = {};
   if (options.fields) {
@@ -496,8 +496,11 @@ export async function listsExport(
     requestBody.anchor = options.anchor;
   }
 
+  if (options.requirePhone && options.anchor !== 'property') requestBody.require_phone = true;
+
   const spinner = createSpinner('Starting export...').start();
-  const data = await apiRequest<{ data: { export_id: string; status: string; record_count: number } }>(
+  type ExportResult = { export_id: string; status: string; record_count: number };
+  const data = await apiRequest<ExportResult | { data: ExportResult }>(
     `/lists/${listId}/export`,
     { method: 'POST', body: requestBody }
   );
@@ -508,7 +511,7 @@ export async function listsExport(
     return;
   }
 
-  const e = data.data;
+  const e = 'data' in data ? data.data : data;
   printHeader('Export Started');
   printKeyValue({
     'Export ID': e.export_id,
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 94e20d8..fdfe7ee 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -1032,7 +1032,8 @@ Examples:
 
 listsCmd
   .command('export <id>')
-  .description('Export list items (credits charged per record)')
+  .description('Export items from a completed list')
+  .option('--require-phone', 'Only export people with a phone number')
   .option('--fields <csv>', 'Comma-separated list of fields to export')
   .option('--anchor <type>', 'Anchor type: property or person')
   .option('--json', 'Output as JSON')
diff --git a/src/lib/client.ts b/src/lib/client.ts
index 22bd656..0a49c96 100644
--- a/src/lib/client.ts
+++ b/src/lib/client.ts
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@ export async function apiRequest<T>(
       console.error(
         chalk.dim('  Add capacity in Billing settings or remove prospects, then retry.')
       );
+    } else if (response.status === 402 && error.error?.code === 'export_limit_exceeded' &&
+               typeof error.error.details?.required_credits === 'number') {
+      console.error(chalk.dim('  Check your data credit balance with dm usage before retrying.'));
     } else if (response.status === 402) {
       console.error(chalk.dim('  Your plan does not cover this request. Check Billing settings.'));
     } else if (response.status === 422) {
diff --git a/tests/commands/publicApiExtensions.test.ts b/tests/commands/publicApiExtensions.test.ts
index 352d928..b5c8497 100644
--- a/tests/commands/publicApiExtensions.test.ts
+++ b/tests/commands/publicApiExtensions.test.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ vi.mock('../../src/lib/output.js', () => ({
   parseRequestBody: mockParseRequestBody,
   printJson: vi.fn(),
   printHeader: vi.fn(),
+  printKeyValue: vi.fn(),
   printTable: vi.fn(),
   printPagination: vi.fn(),
   printTotals: vi.fn(),
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ vi.mock('../../src/lib/output.js', () => ({
   })),
 }));
 
-import { printJson, printTable } from '../../src/lib/output.js';
+import { printJson, printKeyValue, printTable } from '../../src/lib/output.js';
 import { peopleGet, peopleIds, peopleSearch, peopleExport } from '../../src/commands/people.js';
 import { propertiesGet, propertiesIds, propertiesSearch, propertiesExport } from '../../src/commands/properties.js';
 import {
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ import {
 import { addressesAutocomplete, locationsAutocomplete } from '../../src/commands/locations.js';
 import { drivingGet, drivingList } from '../../src/commands/driving.js';
 import { prospectsList } from '../../src/commands/prospects.js';
-import { listsItems } from '../../src/commands/lists.js';
+import { listsExport, listsItems } from '../../src/commands/lists.js';
 import { phonesDnc } from '../../src/commands/phones.js';
 import { comps } from '../../src/commands/comps.js';
 
@@ -487,6 +488,15 @@ describe('CLI public API extensions', () => {
     }
   );
 
+  it('sends the phone requirement on a person-anchored list export', async () => {
+    mockApiRequest.mockResolvedValue({ export_id: 'export-1', status: 'completed', record_count: 2 });
+    await listsExport('list_1', { requirePhone: true });
+    expect(printKeyValue).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ 'Export ID': 'export-1', 'Status': 'completed', 'Record Count': 2 });
+    expect(mockApiRequest).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/lists/list_1/export', {
+      method: 'POST', body: { require_phone: true },
+    });
+  });
+
   it('keeps numeric list person IDs and uses opaque IDs only when the numeric ID is unavailable', async () => {
     mockApiRequest.mockResolvedValue({
       data: [
diff --git a/tests/lib/client.test.ts b/tests/lib/client.test.ts
index eb8074d..e16ef5f 100644
--- a/tests/lib/client.test.ts
+++ b/tests/lib/client.test.ts
@@ -81,3 +81,21 @@ it('names each rejected field when the API returns a validation error', async ()
     'status: status must be one of draft, ready, active, paused, ended, completed, cancelled'
   );
 });
+
+it('shows the list export credit shortfall and points to the balance', async () => {
+  readConfig.mockReturnValue({ apiKey: 'stored-account-key' });
+  const message = 'This export requires 12 data credits. You have 8 and need 4 more.';
+  vi.stubGlobal('fetch', async () => Response.json({
+    error: {
+      code: 'export_limit_exceeded', message,
+      details: { required_credits: 12, remaining_credits: 8, reason: 'insufficient_for_request' },
+    },
+  }, { status: 402 }));
+  const error = vi.spyOn(console, 'error').mockImplementation(() => {});
+  vi.spyOn(process, 'exit').mockImplementation(() => { throw new Error('exit'); });
+  await expect(apiRequest('/lists/example/export', { method: 'POST', body: {} })).rejects.toThrow('exit');
+  const output = error.mock.calls.flat().join(' ');
+  expect(output).toContain(message);
+  expect(output).toContain('dm usage');
+  expect(output).not.toContain('plan does not cover');
+});