---
id: ADR-PFM-INT-005
title: 'Uncertain outcomes are looked up, never resent or compensated'
product_area: platform
module: integrations
revision: 1
status: proposed
design_intent: confirmed
source_sha:
  services-platform: ad3f6a6582843008ed0f5a17b131878d15829af1
decision: >-
  Investigate a possibly completed provider action through lookup on the same account. Keep an ambiguous
  outcome uncertain until lookup is exhausted, then require a person’s resolution without automatic reversal.
constrains:
  - DOM-PFM-INT-003
  - STATE-PFM-INT-007
  - WF-PFM-INT-013
  - WF-PFM-INT-014
  - SCR-PFM-INT-010
  - SCR-PFM-INT-015
  - SVC-PFM-INT-integrations
alternatives:
  - option: Resend work with an unknown outcome.
    why_not: 'The provider may already have completed it, making another effect possible.'
  - option: Issue an automatic refund or reversal.
    why_not: Compensation is another fallible business operation and belongs to the consuming application.
  - option: Fail immediately when lookup finds nothing.
    why_not: Provider indexing can lag a completed action.
consequences:
  - >-
    Financial work can remain unresolved for roughly seven hours before requiring a person. Manual resolution
    records an outcome without contacting the provider.
  - The console follows the service’s settlement standing rather than imposing a local timeout.
  - An incorrect manual conclusion requires human follow-up.
origin: 'docs/milestones/INTG-M2-calls-through-the-gateway.md#Decisions M2-D2, M2-D8 (Andrew)'
supersedes: []
---

# Uncertain outcomes are looked up, never resent or compensated

## Context

A missing response cannot establish that a provider did nothing.

## Decision

Investigate a possibly completed provider action through lookup on the same account. Keep an ambiguous outcome uncertain until lookup is exhausted, then require a person’s resolution without automatic reversal.

## Alternatives Considered

Resend work with an unknown outcome. The provider may already have completed it, making another effect possible.

Issue an automatic refund or reversal. Compensation is another fallible business operation and belongs to the consuming application.

Fail immediately when lookup finds nothing. Provider indexing can lag a completed action.

## Consequences

Financial work can remain unresolved for roughly seven hours before requiring a person. Manual resolution records an outcome without contacting the provider.

The console follows the service’s settlement standing rather than imposing a local timeout.

An incorrect manual conclusion requires human follow-up.