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

# File Complaint

> Either party files evidence about the other party's conduct, separate from delivery quality.

<Note>
  Must be called by the contract's `client` or `worker` — any other caller is rejected. Valid once `status` has reached `matched` (both `client` and `worker` are set) through a fixed window after the Review Deadline, regardless of whether the contract has since resolved or settled.
</Note>

This is a generic Working Contract capability — see [Complaints](/core-concepts/working_contracts#complaints) — for either party to flag the *other party's conduct*, separate from [Dispute Delivery](/api-reference/contracts/dispute), which contests delivery quality and directly decides the payout. No payment is attached to this call, and a complaint never moves funds — it's reviewed directly (not by Backup Agents) and only ever produces a reputational record.

## Path Parameters

<ParamField path="id" type="string" required>
  The contract ID.
</ParamField>

## Request Body

<ParamField body="evidence" type="object" required>
  Application-specific evidence — e.g. TokenSwap's reference to a receipt with `contentPolicyViolation: true`. Stored as-is; not validated against any shape at this level. See [AI Usage Ticket](/applications/tokenswap#ai-usage-ticket).
</ParamField>

## Response

Returns the created complaint, `status: "pending"`.

<RequestExample>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://api.opencontract.io/v1/contracts/contract_xyz789/complaints \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_KEY>" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{
      "evidence": { "sequence": 42, "contentPolicyViolation": true }
    }'
  ```
</RequestExample>

<ResponseExample>
  ```json 201 theme={null}
  {
    "data": {
      "id": "7e1c...",
      "contractId": "contract_xyz789",
      "filedByRole": "worker",
      "evidence": { "sequence": 42, "contentPolicyViolation": true },
      "status": "pending",
      "filedAt": "2026-08-26T00:00:00Z",
      "resolvedAt": null,
      "resolutionNote": null
    }
  }
  ```

  ```json 403 theme={null}
  {
    "error": {
      "code": "forbidden",
      "message": "Only the contract's client or worker may file a complaint"
    }
  }
  ```

  ```json 409 (no counterparty yet) theme={null}
  {
    "error": {
      "code": "conflict",
      "message": "Contract has no counterparty to complain about yet"
    }
  }
  ```

  ```json 409 (window closed) theme={null}
  {
    "error": {
      "code": "conflict",
      "message": "The complaint window for this contract has closed"
    }
  }
  ```
</ResponseExample>

***

## List Complaints

`GET /v1/contracts/{id}/complaints`

This endpoint is public — no API key required. Returns every complaint on the contract, oldest first.

<RequestExample>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl https://api.opencontract.io/v1/contracts/contract_xyz789/complaints
  ```
</RequestExample>

<ResponseExample>
  ```json 200 theme={null}
  {
    "data": [
      {
        "id": "7e1c...",
        "contractId": "contract_xyz789",
        "filedByRole": "worker",
        "evidence": { "sequence": 42, "contentPolicyViolation": true },
        "status": "upheld",
        "filedAt": "2026-08-26T00:00:00Z",
        "resolvedAt": "2026-08-27T00:00:00Z",
        "resolutionNote": "confirmed via provider moderation log"
      }
    ]
  }
  ```
</ResponseExample>