> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://countertrade.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://countertrade.gitbook.io/docs/trading/rejected-orders.md).

# Rejected orders

The order-rejection messages in the trading terminal, what each one means, and how to get the order through.

A rejected order didn't go through: nothing was placed, no fill happened, and your paper balance is unchanged. The terminal shows the reason in a banner under the submit button, and the order shows as rejected in your order history — match the banner message to the section below.

## "Room is not live yet. Trading will open at start time." / "Room has ended. Trading is closed."

You can only place orders during a room's live window. The first message appears before the room starts; the second after it ends.

For a room that hasn't started, wait for the start time and the terminal will open trading. For a room that has ended, the battle is over and trading stays closed — see [Place an order](/docs/trading/place-an-order.md) for the live-window rule.

## "Set your trader name to trade."

You haven't set a trader name yet, and a trader name is required before you can place an order. Until you set one, your public identity shows as **Unnamed Trader**.

Set your trader name, then submit the order again.

## "Insufficient available balance for this order."

The margin this order needs is more than the paper balance you have available. Open positions and resting orders already reserve margin, so your available balance is usually smaller than your total equity.

Reduce the **Size**, or close or reduce an open position to free up margin, then submit again.

## "Order would exceed the maximum allowed position notional."

The order's notional is above the room's per-position cap. That cap scales with your account equity, so it can tighten after losses.

Place a smaller order — lower the **Size** until it fits.

## "Selected leverage exceeds the room maximum."

The leverage set on the ticket is higher than this room's maximum. Each room sets its own leverage cap.

Lower **Leverage** to within the room's limit, then submit again. For how leverage changes your risk, see [Leverage](/docs/trading/leverage.md).

## "Order would flip the position. Reduce or close the existing position first."

The order is on the opposite side of your open position and larger than it. Filling it would close the position and open a new one on the other side in a single order, which isn't allowed.

First reduce or close the position — turn on **Reduce only** or close it directly — then place a separate order to open the other side.

## "Order book has no depth to fill this market order." / "Order book is temporarily unavailable. Try again."

There isn't enough resting liquidity to fill a market order right now, or the order book briefly dropped out.

Wait a moment and try again, or place a **Limit** order at your price instead of a **Market** order so it rests until it can fill.

## "Mark price is stale. Try again in a moment."

The price feed that values positions has fallen behind, and the engine will not accept an order against a price it cannot trust. Nothing is wrong with your order.

Wait a moment and submit again. The same freshness rule holds elsewhere: a liquidation waits for a fresh mark rather than firing on a stale one, and a battle will not finalize while a position's mark is stale.

## "Your account is liquidated and cannot trade in this room."

Your account was fully liquidated: its equity fell too low and every open position was force-closed. This is a [full account liquidation](/docs/trading/liquidation.md), not a single [position liquidation](/docs/trading/liquidation.md) — it ends your trading in that room.

There's nothing to retry. Trading in this room is over for you; your other rooms are unaffected.

## "Order status unknown" is not a rejection

When you see `Order status unknown — it may have been placed. Check Open Orders before retrying.`, the request timed out or the connection dropped before the terminal got a result. The order may or may not have gone through.

Submitting the same order again from the same ticket is safe: it reuses the order's ID, so it can't be placed twice. If you change the order, reload the page, or place it from another tab, it goes in as a new order and can open the position twice — check your open positions and orders first.

## If it keeps happening

If a message tells you to contact support, or a valid order keeps getting rejected, see [Troubleshooting](/docs/help/troubleshooting.md).