API reference

Decision reason: out_of_appetite

Q: Where does out_of_appetite appear in the payload?

Under data.object.reason in the decision.completed webhook. Verify the signature, then branch on it.

out_of_appetite is a decision reason value. The request fell outside current lending appetite. It appears in the <a href="/reference/event-decision-referred/">decision.completed</a> webhook payload under reason. Decline clearly; the customer can re-apply if their circumstances change.

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out_of_appetitereason value

decisionDomain

data.objectCarries reason

What it means

The request fell outside current lending appetite. Sector, size or structure outside the current policy window.

Where you see it

It arrives in the webhook payload:

{
  "data": {
    "object": {
      "id": "dec_5H2N8",
      "enquiry_id": "enq_9F3K2P",
      "outcome": "declined",
      "reason": "out_of_appetite"
    }
  }
}

How to handle it

Decline clearly; the customer can re-apply if their circumstances change.

Keep declines respectful and never expose the underlying assessment data. See how to apply and the eligibility criteria.

In practice

Treat out_of_appetite as one branch of your reason handling, not the whole story. For decisions, the value explains the outcome so you can present it honestly without exposing the assessment. Map it to clear, humane copy, and where relevant signpost a constructive next step — a smaller amount, more trading evidence, or a later re-application. Never surface the raw code to the customer.