## **🔍 Why a referral may be denied**

An active subscription shown in the referral tab does not always mean the referral qualifies for commission. Referrals must pass tracking and eligibility checks before approval.

A referral may be denied when the signup was not attributed to a valid referral link, tracking data is missing, the customer used another attribution source, the subscription was canceled or refunded, or the account does not meet the affiliate program terms.

## **📊 What the referral status means**

- **Pending:** The referral is recorded but still under review.
- **Approved:** The referral has qualified for commission and is eligible for payout according to the payout schedule.
- **Denied:** The referral did not meet the required eligibility or tracking conditions.
- **Canceled or reversed:** The qualifying subscription changed, was refunded, or otherwise became ineligible.

## **✅ How to check a referral**

1. Open the affiliate area in Search Atlas.
2. Find the referral using the customer details or referral record.
3. Review the status, signup date, subscription plan, and commission details.
4. Confirm that the customer signed up through your referral link and that the qualifying subscription remains active.
5. Allow time for the review period and any refund or cancellation checks to complete.

## **💳 How commission payouts work**

Commissions are paid only for approved referrals. A subscription can remain active while its commission is still pending or denied because subscription status and commission eligibility are separate checks.

Payout timing can also depend on the program’s review period, refunds, cancellations, payment confirmation, and the payout information saved to your affiliate account. Combined billing or add-ons may not always be included in the commissionable base.

## **🛠️ What to do if the status looks incorrect**

First, verify the referral link used, signup date, customer account, plan, and current subscription status. Do not ask the customer to create a second account or use a different referral link, as this can make attribution harder to verify.

If the referral remains denied despite meeting the requirements, provide the referral record, relevant dates, and a brief explanation through the in-platform support chat. Our team can review the tracking and billing details available for that referral.

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type **human teammate** to be connected with a member of our team.