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

# Settlement Stuck, PayPal

> Settlement Stuck for PayPal stores. Tracked live in Vortex IQ Nerve Centre. How to read it, why it matters, and how to act on it.

**Metrics type:** [Supporting Metrics](/nerve-centre/overview#metrics-types-explained)  •  **Category:** [Payment Gateway](/nerve-centre/connectors#connectors-by-type)

## At a glance

> **Settlement Stuck** is a nerve centre metric tracked from PayPal data. It surfaces operational signal at the nerve centre layer so merchants can spot regressions, opportunities, and structural patterns in their store performance. The card pairs with sibling metrics in the Nerve Centre category to build a complete diagnostic picture; cross-reference the related cards listed below for context.

|                       |                                                                                                                                                                    |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **What it counts**    | Settlement Stuck as exposed by the PayPal integration. The metric is computed from the latest available data and refreshed on the standard data refresh.           |
| **Sample type**       | Backend API data from PayPal, refreshed on the standard data refresh.                                                                                              |
| **Why it matters**    | The metric appears in the Nerve Centre category and complements the sibling cards listed below. Track movement over time to identify regressions or opportunities. |
| **Reading the value** | Compare the current period to the prior period to identify direction. Cross-reference siblings for the full diagnostic picture.                                    |
| **Currency**          | number                                                                                                                                                             |
| **Time window**       | `RT`                                                                                                                                                               |
| **Alert trigger**     | `any payout >5d pending`                                                                                                                                           |
| **Sentiment key**     | `pp_alert_settlement_stuck`                                                                                                                                        |
| **Roles**             | owner, finance, operations                                                                                                                                         |

## Calculation

Calculated automatically from your PayPal data. See the At a glance summary above for what the metric tracks and the worked example below for a typical reading.

## Worked example

*A representative reading of **Settlement Stuck** for a typical merchant on PayPal.* The card reports the current period value alongside a comparison against the previous period. Direction matters: rising values may be healthy or concerning depending on the underlying metric. Cross-reference the siblings below to triangulate cause when the value moves outside expected range. For deeper investigation, use Vortex Mind to trace upstream causes; for natural-language exploration, ask Ask Viq.

## Sibling cards merchants should reference together

| Card                                                                                   | Why merchants reach for it                      |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| [`pp_alert_decline_spike`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/paypal/decline-rate-spike-alert)    | Nerve Centre sibling: Decline Rate Spike Alert. |
| [`pp_alert_dispute_threshold`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/paypal/dispute-threshold-watch) | Nerve Centre sibling: Dispute Threshold Watch.  |
| [`pp_alert_dispute_velocity`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/paypal/dispute-velocity-alert)   | Nerve Centre sibling: Dispute Velocity Alert.   |
| [`pp_alert_fraud_velocity`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/paypal/fraud-velocity-alert)       | Nerve Centre sibling: Fraud Velocity Alert.     |
| [`pay_avg_settlement_days`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/paypal/avg-settlement-time)        | Settlement sibling: Avg Settlement Time (days). |

## Reconciling against the vendor's own dashboard

**Where to look in PayPal's own dashboard:**

The PayPal dashboard surfaces this metric (or its components) under the relevant report section. Confirm period boundaries and filter settings match the Vortex IQ profile to reconcile cleanly.

**Why the Vortex IQ value may legitimately differ:**

| Reason                                                                                                     | Direction | What to do               |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------- | ------------------------ |
| **Period boundary.** Vortex IQ uses 30-day rolling by default; vendor dashboards may use calendar periods. | Variable  | Match the period range.  |
| **Time zone.** Vendor uses account time zone; Vortex IQ aligns to merchant reporting time zone.            | Marginal  | Confirm time zone match. |
| **Filter scope.** Profile-level filters (channel, B2B, test orders) may narrow the Vortex IQ view.         | Variable  | Match filter settings.   |

**Cross-connector reconciliation:** complement with sibling cards in the same category for the full diagnostic picture. For divergence investigations, use Vortex Mind.

## Known limitations / merchant FAQs

**Q: How often does Settlement Stuck update?**
The card refreshes on the standard data refresh (typically every 30-60 minutes for live integrations). For real-time signals, force a manual refresh from the dashboard.

**Q: Why does my PayPal dashboard show a different number?**
The most common reasons are period-boundary differences (Vortex IQ uses 30-day rolling vs vendor's calendar months), time-zone alignment, and filter scope (profile-level vs vendor's all-account view). Match these settings before assuming a real divergence.

**Q: How does Settlement Stuck relate to other nerve centre metrics?**
Track this card alongside the siblings listed above to build a complete picture. Single-metric reads can mislead; the diagnostic value is in the cross-reference.

**Q: Can I customise the alert threshold?**
Yes, alert thresholds are configurable per profile in the Alert Rules tab. Adjust to match your business baseline rather than relying on the generic default.

***

### Tracked live in Vortex IQ Nerve Centre

*Settlement Stuck* is one of hundreds of KPI pulses Vortex IQ tracks across PayPal and 70+ other ecommerce connectors. Nerve Centre runs the detection layer; Vortex Mind investigates the cause when something moves; Ask Viq lets you interrogate any number in plain English.

[Start for free](https://app.vortexiq.ai/login) or [book a demo](https://www.vortexiq.ai/contact-us) to see this metric running on your own data.
