Publication Policy

The Pending Complaints Register is not a blacklist. It is a controlled register of qualifying unresolved complaints, and a listing is never automatic.

Before a complaint can be listed, all of the following must be satisfied: complainant KYC verified and identity confirmed; respondent reasonably identified; the transaction relationship sufficiently evidenced; the respondent notified or documented reasonable attempts made; the seven-day response period completed; the complaint still unresolved; case integrity checks passed; the complainant explicitly requesting listing; a manual SettleMe review completed; and no legal, privacy or integrity hold in place.

Allegations involving fraud, theft, corruption, violence, criminality, sexual misconduct or regulatory offences are never published automatically. They require legal and manual review, and factual language is used instead of accusations.

Every listed respondent has a right of reply. They may dispute the complaint, upload evidence, provide an explanation, show proof of payment or resolution, claim wrong identity, request a correction or challenge the listing. Complainant position, respondent position and current procedural status are always shown together.

High-risk challenges result in temporary suspension of the listing pending review. Once a complaint is resolved it is removed from the active register and a SettleMe Resolution Certificate is generated.

Inclusion in the register does not constitute a finding by SettleMe that a claim is true, that money is owed, or that any party has committed wrongdoing.