# dispute

URL: /business/nouns/order/dispute · Id: `verb:Order.dispute` · Call: `await $.Order.dispute({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Dispute contests a delivered Order under its Outcome Contract and starts the remedy the contract names.

`Order.dispute` contests a delivered [Order](/business/nouns/order) under its [Outcome Contract](/business/nouns/outcome-contract) and opens a [Dispute](/business/nouns/dispute) that starts the remedy the contract names.

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `order` | [Order](/business/nouns/order) | Yes | The delivered Order. |
| `reason` | `text` | Yes | What falls short of the promise. |
| `lines` | `json` | No | The lines disputed; every delivered line when absent. Undisputed lines stay open to confirm. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `order` | [Order](/business/nouns/order) | Yes | The disputed Order. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Order.disputed`](/business/events/Order.disputed).
- Performed by the [Billing Specialist](/agents/finance/billing-specialist).
- Two-way: it runs at once, in the `try`, `send` and `do` modes.
- Holds the fee until the remedy completes.
- Opens an Issue for the Customer Team.

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The input does not match the schema of the operation. | [`invalid-input`](/code/api/errors/invalid-input) | Read the schema of the operation, then send every required field with the right type. | [Order.dispute](/business/nouns/order/dispute) |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | [Order.dispute](/business/nouns/order/dispute) |
| The record is not in a state that allows this Verb, so the call is refused. | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | Read the record, run the Verb that moves it to an allowed state, then retry. | [Order.dispute](/business/nouns/order/dispute) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | Low: two-way, nothing at stake |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | None: it runs once review passes. |
| Limit | The call [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Dispute the latest order.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/orders/order_1/dispute \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"reason":"Example reason"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com",
  "order": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/orders/order_1",
    "$type": "Order",
    "total": {
      "amount": 9,
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    "status": "placed"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Order.dispute",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const order = await $.Order.dispute({ order: 'order_1', reason: 'Example reason' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Order.dispute --json '{"order":"order_1","reason":"Example reason"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Order.dispute({ order: 'order_1', reason: 'Example reason' })"
  }
}
```