## 🛠️ How to Resolve a Publisher Exchange Pending Action in Search Atlas

When a publication in your Authority Building order is rejected or becomes unavailable, Search Atlas opens a **3-day resolution window** so you can choose exactly how your order moves forward. This article walks you through every resolution option available and how to confirm your choice before the deadline passes. ⏳

## 🔍 Finding the Pending Action Resolution Screen

You can reach the resolution screen in two ways.

📧 **Via email:** Click the direct link included in your Pending Action email. This takes you straight to the resolution screen for the affected order.

🖥️ **Via the dashboard:** Navigate to **Dashboard → Authority Building → Orders → [Order Name] → Pending Actions** in Search Atlas. Orders with an open pending action also display a **Pending Action badge** in the Orders list view, making them easy to spot at a glance.

## ✅ Your Three Resolution Options

Once you are on the resolution screen, you will see three ways to handle the affected placement. Review each option carefully before confirming. 👇

### 📌 Option 1: Choose an Alternative Publication Yourself

Browse the available Authority Building inventory and select a replacement publication that fits your campaign goals. This option gives you the **most direct control** over which site receives your placement. Look for publications that match your target niche, preferred domain authority range, and traffic expectations.

✅ **Best for:** Campaigns with specific niche or quality requirements where you want to hand-pick the replacement yourself.

### 🤖 Option 2: Choose for Me

Let Search Atlas automatically select the best-matching replacement based on your **original placement criteria** — including niche, domain authority, traffic tier, and pricing band. This is the same logic Search Atlas uses when the 3-day window expires, but by selecting it yourself you confirm the choice immediately rather than waiting for the automatic fallback.

✅ **Best for:** Campaigns where the original criteria were a good fit and you trust Search Atlas to find a comparable replacement quickly.

### 💰 Option 3: Refund HDC

Return the **HDC credits** associated with the rejected or unavailable publication directly to your Search Atlas account. No replacement publication is assigned when you choose this option — the credits simply become available for use on a future order or placement.

✅ **Best for:** Situations where no available replacement meets your standards, or when you prefer to reallocate budget to a different campaign entirely.

🔎 After a refund is applied, you can verify the credit balance by navigating to **Avatar (top-right) → Billing (Plans & Top-ups)** in Search Atlas.

## ✔️ Confirming Your Resolution

Once you have reviewed the options and made your selection, click **Confirm** to finalize your choice. Your order updates **immediately** after you confirm, and Search Atlas sends a confirmation email to your address on file so you have a record of the resolution. 📬

⚠️ **Important:** You must confirm your selection within the **3-day (72-hour) window** that begins at the UTC timestamp shown in your Pending Action email. If the window expires before you confirm, Search Atlas automatically assigns a replacement publication using the same criteria as the **Choose for Me** option.

## ⏰ Act Early for the Widest Choice

📅 Inventory in the Authority Building marketplace changes continuously. Responding on **Day 1** — as soon as you receive the initial Pending Action email — gives you access to the broadest selection of alternative publications. Waiting until Day 3 may limit the alternatives available to you.

🔔 Search Atlas sends **two reminder emails** automatically: one at 24 hours and another at 48 hours after the initial notification, so the deadline will not pass unnoticed.

## 🆘 Need More Help?

For a full overview of how the 3-day resolution timeline works and what happens if the window expires without action, see the article **Publisher Exchange Rejection: How to Resolve a Pending Action Email**. For general placement management, visit the **Authority Building Orders overview**.