# Conversation routes: escalate, reopen

URL: /code/api/conversation/verbs-escalate · Id: `page:code/api/conversation/verbs-escalate`

> The Conversation Verbs escalate, reopen as api.sb routes, with inputs, result, refusals and an example.

Reference for [Conversation](/business/nouns/conversation), one group of [Conversation routes](/code/api/conversation).

### Conversation.escalate
Escalate hands a Conversation and its summary to the Worker in the Role above, a Human only where one holds it. [Verb page](/business/nouns/conversation/escalate?interface=api).

```text
POST /{namespace}/conversations/{conversation}/escalate
```

Path: `conversation`. Body, as JSON: the other inputs. Emits [`Conversation.escalated`](/business/events/Conversation.escalated).

**Inputs**

| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `conversation` | [Conversation](/business/nouns/conversation) | Yes | The Conversation to hand off. |
| `reason` | `string` | Yes | Why it moves up. |

**Returns**

| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `conversation` | [Conversation](/business/nouns/conversation) | Yes | The Conversation, with its new Worker. |

**Refuses when**

| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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. | None. |

**Example**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/leaseline.app/conversations/conversation_0vg6SDjB6k/escalate \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"reason":"lowConfidence"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app",
  "conversation": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/conversations/conversation_0vg6SDjB6k",
    "$type": "Conversation",
    "subject": "Example subject",
    "answeredAt": "2026-10-22T12:00:00Z"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/actions/act_br07HsG8MG",
    "operation": "Conversation.escalate",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/actions/act_br07HsG8MG"
  }
}
```

### Conversation.reopen
Reopen reverses a Conversation’s resolution when a reversal signal arrives within 7 days, and grades the resolution a failure. [Verb page](/business/nouns/conversation/reopen?interface=api).

```text
POST /{namespace}/conversations/{conversation}/reopen
```

Path: `conversation`. Body, as JSON: the other inputs. Emits [`Conversation.reopened`](/business/events/Conversation.reopened).

**Inputs**

| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `conversation` | [Conversation](/business/nouns/conversation) | Yes | The resolved Conversation. |
| `signal` | `string` | Yes | What reversed it: a new Message on the subject, a request for a person, a rating of 2 or lower, or a Dispute. |

**Returns**

| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `conversation` | [Conversation](/business/nouns/conversation) | Yes | The Conversation, open again. |

**Refuses when**

| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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. | None. |

**Example**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/leaseline.app/conversations/conversation_0vg6SDjB6k/reopen \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"signal":"askedForPerson"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app",
  "conversation": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/conversations/conversation_0vg6SDjB6k",
    "$type": "Conversation",
    "subject": "Example subject",
    "answeredAt": "2026-10-22T12:00:00Z"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/actions/act_br07HsG8MG",
    "operation": "Conversation.reopen",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/actions/act_br07HsG8MG"
  }
}
```