Writ · hard limits in code 3 of 7 · in Core

Policy the operation cannot exceed

Acta decides what should happen. Writ decides whether it is allowed to happen, against limits you wrote and the model cannot change.

Acta decides what should happen. Writ decides whether it is allowed to happen.

The limit it checks is one you wrote, not the model.

Order edit Cancellation Backorder Pre-order Return Exchange Warranty Shipping protection Store credit Gift card Subscription Loyalty New Promising Potential Loyal Champions At risk Hibernating Lost default
Return Loyal
permitted refund · exchange · store credit
limit ≤ $150
eligibility within 30 days · order fulfilled
Authority. Not a recommendation.
Acta proposes Refund $80
shown 12 of 50 ticket types 1 read
The read

The four checks between a proposal and a refund

Before an action runs, Writ reads four things from their source: the rule, the actions it permits, its limit, and the live order. None comes from the model.

policy policy store
Does a rule exist here?
index Returns & refunds · v12
address Return × Loyal
state resolved
permission the cell's action set
Is this action permitted?
permitted here refund · exchange · store credit
requested refund
limit the cell's limit
Does the value fit?
authority ≤ $150
requested $80
eligibility Shopify Plus order record live
Does the real state qualify?
order #SV-40218
state fulfilled · delivered
window day 12 of 30
not evaluated here intent sentiment suspicion experience 4 values 4 places read at decision time Authorized $80

What Acta does before this

The read

The four checks between a proposal and a refund

Four values are checked before any refund runs.

policy policy store
Does a rule exist here?
index Returns & refunds · v12
address Return × Loyal
state resolved
permission the cell's action set
Is this action permitted?
permitted here refund · exchange · store credit
requested refund
limit the cell's limit
Does the value fit?
authority ≤ $150
requested $80
eligibility Shopify Plus order record live
Does the real state qualify?
order #SV-40218
state fulfilled · delivered
window day 12 of 30
not evaluated here  intent  sentiment  suspicion  experience 4 values  4 places  read at decision time Authorized  $80

Writ reads them from their source. None comes from the model.

What Acta does before this

The copies

The rule stops living in six documents

The copies

The rule stops living in six documents

Today your refund rule is copied into PDFs, macros and prompts, and the copies drift apart. In Writ it lives in one place, so changing it changes every action.

Returns policy · PDF, §4.2 refunds up to $100
Returns SOP · shared drive refunds up to $150, within 45 days
Helpdesk macro · RET-REFUND refunds up to $150
Onboarding deck · slide 12 refunds up to $100
Assistant prompt · v7 refunds, no limit stated
Shift lead's note · pinned refunds up to $200 for loyal customers
Writ · Return × Loyal ≤ $150 the value the execution path reads
6 copies 4 different limits 1 executable value Policy stops being advisory. It becomes infrastructure.

One rule, in one place, read by every action.

The return

Outside policy does not mean escalated to you

A request your policy forbids is refused, with the alternatives the same rule allows. Only a case no rule covers reaches your helpdesk.

Executed
action Refund $80
execution Shopify · r_8842190
authority Return × Loyal · within $150
proposal strength 0.99
Live chat to the customer · order #SV-40219

That’s day 45, past the 30-day refund window on this order. You can still exchange it for the same size in our returns portal, or I can put the full $80 on store credit. Which works?

Refused
rule cited Return × Loyal · 30-day window
alternatives, from the same cell 2 · exchange, store credit
proposal strength 0.62
Escalated
case Influencer partnership
reason no rule at this address
holder Your helpdesk · typed reason
proposal strength 0.96
Refusal means the rule exists. Escalation means judgment is required. 3 terminal states 1 reaches your helpdesk Who the escalated case reaches
The return

Outside policy does not mean escalated to you

A request your policy forbids is refused, with the alternatives the same rule allows. Only a case no rule covers reaches your helpdesk.

A request your policy forbids is refused, with the alternatives the same rule allows.

Executed
action Refund $80
execution Shopify · r_8842190
authority Return × Loyal · within $150
proposal strength 0.99
Refused
rule cited Return × Loyal · 30-day window
alternatives, from the same cell 2 · exchange, store credit
proposal strength 0.62
Escalated
case Influencer partnership
reason no rule at this address
holder Your helpdesk · typed reason
proposal strength 0.96
Refusal means the rule exists. Escalation means judgment is required. Who the escalated case reaches

Refused is not escalated. Only a case no rule covers reaches your helpdesk.

Authority record · act #A-77140 16 Mar 2026
context customer · order #SV-40218 · case Return
02:14:07.104
applicable policy Return × Loyal
02:14:07.181
authority evaluated refund ≤ $150 · within 30 days
02:14:07.242
decision authorized
02:14:07.396
execution Shopify · r_8842190
02:14:07.488
result $80.00 returned to card ·4471
02:14:07.516
6 values, written as the decision happened 412 ms
The question, 243 days later

Why was this refund allowed?

which rule authorized it Return × Loyal
what customer state was evaluated fulfilled · day 12 of 30
what amount was permitted ≤ $150
what actually executed r_8842190 · $80.00
Answered from the act, not from the transcript.
The residue

Why this refund was allowed, 243 days later

A log records what happened. This records why it was allowed to happen — the question finance, compliance, your operators and an investigation all ask later.

The residue

Why this refund was allowed, 243 days later

A log records what happened. This records why it was allowed to happen.

Authority record · act #A-77140 16 Mar 2026
context customer · order #SV-40218 · case Return
02:14:07.104
applicable policy Return × Loyal
02:14:07.181
authority evaluated refund ≤ $150 · within 30 days
02:14:07.242
decision authorized
02:14:07.396
execution Shopify · r_8842190
02:14:07.488
result $80.00 returned to card ·4471
02:14:07.516
6 values, written as the decision happened 412 ms
The question, 243 days later

Why was this refund allowed?

which rule authorized it Return × Loyal
what customer state was evaluated fulfilled · day 12 of 30
what amount was permitted ≤ $150
what actually executed r_8842190 · $80.00
Answered from the act, not from the transcript.

Nothing runs outside your limits. Not once.

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