Every side effect on an external app passes through one gate. The rules are declared before the run, enforced in code, and counted. A blocked attempt is traced as attempted → BLOCKED → reason, never silently dropped. The Stripe disputes API submits by default; the agent always stages first and reads the validator before it ever sends submit=true.
SUBMIT_WITHOUT_HUMAN_APPROVALno Stripe submission without the Slack clickDUPLICATE_FILING_SAME_DISPUTEa dispute is filed once, everUNCITED_CLAIMS_IN_PACKETthe writer produced a claim with no source recordEDITED_CE3_PREFILLED_FIELDStripe pre-fills IP and product description; editing them breaks eligibilitySECOND_NOTICE_TO_CUSTOMERone notice per dispute, text or email, never bothSECOND_CALL_TO_CUSTOMERone call per dispute, everNOTICE_WITHOUT_FILINGthe customer is never told about a filing that did not happenREFUND_OUTSIDE_SCOPEthe agent may never refundReason code × evidence → verdict. Deterministic, unit-tested, and tightened only in one direction by the harness: a lost filing adds the evidence that was absent to the requirement, and nothing is ever removed without a human edit.
| reason | required to SUBMIT | CONCEDE if |
|---|---|---|
| product_not_received / physical | order record · tracking delivered · (signature image or address match) | already refunded |
| product_not_received / digital | order record · access log | already refunded |
| fraudulent / physical | order record · CE3.0 prior transactions · CE3.0 elements match · (delivered or address match) | already refunded · no CE3.0 path |
| duplicate | order record · distinct orders | already refunded |
| product_unacceptable | order record · customer communication · (refund policy shown or delivered) | already refunded |
| credit_not_processed | order record · refund policy shown · customer communication | already refunded |
| subscription_canceled / digital | order record · access log · refund policy shown | already refunded |
| unrecognized | order record · (delivered or customer communication) | already refunded |
| anything else | — | HOLD to a human |