Why a claim says "can't be settled"

When the Ref won't pick a side, and what "not yet" means.

Sometimes the fair answer is no answer. A claim marked UNSETTLED counts for nobody: no win, no loss, no change to anyone's track record.

Why it happens

• The wording has two fair readings that give different answers. Say "inflation drops" and it's unclear: which month, which measure, below what?
• The event was cancelled and the contract doesn't say what happens then.
• The source is gone and there's no fair substitute.
• Reliable sources disagree, or there isn't enough evidence to decide.
• It was already known when it was locked. If the result happened, or was public, before the claim locked, it doesn't count. Predicting yesterday's news isn't a prediction.

"Not yet" is different

"Not yet" means the outcome is still open. Maybe the deadline hasn't passed, or the official figure that decides it hasn't been published. The Ref checks again later, more often as the deadline gets close, and there's no new charge.

What you can do

• If you think an UNSETTLED verdict is wrong, either side can appeal within 72 hours.
• Next time, make the contract sharp before it locks: a number, a date, a named source, and what happens if the event is cancelled. The Ref points out what's vague while you write it.