---
title: "Activate a case from PendingVerification"
method: POST
path: "/cases/{id}/start"
tags: ["Cases"]
---

# Activate a case from PendingVerification

`POST /cases/{id}/start`

Transitions a case from `PendingVerification` → `Active`, officially accepting it for debt collection.

**Prerequisites:**
- The case must be in `PendingVerification` status (returns 400 otherwise)
- The case must not require custom terms (non-standard agreement). Cases outside the standard pre-legal scope — where the claim type is not an unpaid invoice or loan repayment, or where a dispute exists — require negotiation in the partner portal and cannot be activated via this API (returns 400 with a descriptive error).
- The `userId` must be a valid user ID from `GET /users` belonging to your team (returns 400 if not found)
- The `assignedUserId`, if provided, must also be a valid user ID from `GET /users` belonging to your team (returns 400 if not found)

**What happens on activation:**
1. Case lifecycle transitions to Active
2. A welcome message is sent to the creditor via email notification, attributed to the user identified by `userId`
3. The welcome message is posted as a chat message in the case thread, attributed to the user identified by `userId`
4. Any pending verification tasks are automatically resolved

**Fee fields:**
The `interestFees`, `reminderFees`, and `collectionFees` fields update the corresponding fee amounts on the case, in the case currency. Default to 0.00 if not provided.

**userId vs assignedUserId:**
`userId` is required and identifies who is sending the welcome message (the actor). `assignedUserId` is optional and identifies who the case is assigned to for ongoing handling. They can be the same person or different team members. Use `GET /users` to retrieve valid user IDs.

## Path parameters

- `id` string, uuid, required

## Request body

- DebituraWebExternalApiContractsV1CasesRequestsStartCaseRequest — Request to activate a case from PendingVerification to Active status.
  - `welcomeMessage` string, required — Welcome message sent to the creditor upon case activation. This message is included in the email notification sent to the creditor and posted in the case chat.
  - `userId` string, uuid, nullable — ID of the team member who is sending this welcome message and activating the case. Used to attribute the chat message and email communication. Must be a valid user ID from GET /users. Returns 400 if the user is not found in your team. Deprecated: use UserEmail instead. At least one of UserId or UserEmail must be provided.
  - `userEmail` string, email, nullable — Email address of the team member who is sending this welcome message and activating the case. Must correspond to an active member of your team. Preferred over UserId. At least one of UserEmail or UserId must be provided.
  - `collectionPartnerReference` string, nullable — Your internal reference number for this case (optional). Stored on the case and visible in the partner portal.
  - `assignedUserId` string, uuid, nullable — ID of the team member to assign as the case handler (optional). Can be the same as UserId or a different team member. Must be a valid user ID from GET /users. Returns 400 if the user is not found in your team. Deprecated: use AssignedUserEmail instead.
  - `assignedUserEmail` string, email, nullable — Email address of the team member to assign as the case handler (optional). Must correspond to an active member of your team. Preferred over AssignedUserId.
  - `interestFees` number, double — Interest fees on this case, in the case currency. Defaults to 0.00 if not provided.
  - `reminderFees` number, double — Reminder fees on this case, in the case currency. Defaults to 0.00 if not provided.
  - `collectionFees` number, double — Collection fees on this case, in the case currency. Defaults to 0.00 if not provided.

## Response `200`

Case activated successfully

- DebituraWebExternalApiContractsV1CasesStartCaseResponse — Response returned when a case is successfully activated.
  - `caseId` string, uuid — The case ID.
  - `caseReference` string, nullable — The Debitura case reference (e.g. 'Q8OAXF3W').
  - `status` string, nullable — The new lifecycle status of the case.
  - `activatedAt` string, date-time — UTC timestamp when the case was activated.
  - `collectionPartnerReference` string, nullable — Your internal reference number for this case, if provided.

## Other responses

- `400` — Validation error — case not in PendingVerification, requires custom terms, invalid assignedUserId, or invalid request body
- `404` — Case not found or not assigned to this collection partner
- `500` — Internal server error

---

[API](https://skmtc.net/debitura/apis/debitura-collection-partner-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.net/debitura/apis/debitura-collection-partner-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-staging.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/debitura/debitura-collection-partner-api/revisions/d0dcc5024bd1/schema)