> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vouchmark.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Disputes

> Challenge a Smart Sentinel finding you believe is incorrect.

Not every automated finding is correct. Name matching against sanctions lists produces false positives. News algorithms can conflate similarly-named companies. When Sentinel gets it wrong, the dispute system lets you challenge the finding with evidence.

## When to dispute

Dispute a monitoring event when:

* A **sanctions match** is for a different entity with a similar name
* An **adverse media** article is about a different company
* A **registry status change** is temporary and already resolved
* The finding is **factually incorrect** based on your documentation

Do not dispute events you agree with but want to suppress — use the mute function in the dashboard instead.

## Dispute lifecycle

<Steps>
  <Step title="Submit">
    File a dispute against a specific monitoring event. Include a description explaining why the finding is incorrect, and attach up to 5 supporting documents (PDFs, screenshots, official letters).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Under review">
    The dispute moves to `under_review`. The Vouchmark compliance team reviews it within 48 hours and may re-run checks or request additional evidence.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Resolution">
    The dispute is resolved as either **upheld** (finding corrected) or **rejected** (original finding stands).
  </Step>
</Steps>

A dispute's `status` is one of `pending`, `under_review`, `upheld`, or `rejected`.

## What happens when a dispute is upheld

* The monitoring event's severity is downgraded (typically to LOW or removed)
* If the event triggered a **badge revocation**, the badge is reinstated
* The vendor's score is recalculated without the disputed finding
* Future runs of the same agent for this vendor will use the correction as a baseline

## What happens when a dispute is rejected

* The original finding remains at its severity
* Any badge revocations stand
* You can submit a new dispute with additional evidence if you have it

## API

```bash theme={null}
POST /v1/disputes              # Submit a dispute (multipart/form-data)
GET  /v1/disputes              # List your disputes
GET  /v1/disputes/:disputeId   # Get dispute details + resolution
```

See [Disputes API Reference](/api-reference/disputes/list-disputes).

## Where to go next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Smart Sentinel" icon="radar" href="/concepts/smart-sentinel">
    How monitoring events are generated.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Trust Badge" icon="badge-check" href="/concepts/trust-badge">
    How badge revocation and reinstatement works.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>