Pending audit

Written and checked by the Energy Merchants desk · Reviewed 3 October 2026

Pending audit means a creation has been picked out for review and the review is still open. It is not a rejection. It is a hold.

What triggers it

Some creations are chosen at random. Others are chosen because of a flag: a data field that looks inconsistent, a pattern across an installer’s claims, or a system that is unusual for the address. The regulator then asks for evidence such as installation photos, the compliance certificate and the signed forms.

In practice

While a creation is pending, the STCs generally cannot be settled to a buyer. How a trader handles that depends on its terms. Some wait for the audit to clear before paying, and others pay and carry the risk at a different price. Ask before you sign up, not after.

The best thing you can do is respond quickly with a complete set of evidence. The photo requirements and the how STC audits work guide describe what is usually requested. Delay in responding is a more common cause of failure than weak evidence.

Worked example

An installer has 150 STCs pending audit on a single job. The regulator asks for the photos and the written statement. The installer sends both within two days. The claim passes in the following week and the STCs settle. If the same evidence took three weeks to arrive, the creation could have failed on timing.

Common confusion

Pending audit is not the same as unregistered. An unregistered creation is waiting on validation. A pending-audit creation is waiting on a human review. They can look alike on a screen. See unregistered STC.

It also does not mean you did something wrong. Random selection exists.

See audit status, STC trading and the glossary.