# Troubleshooting blocked rules

## What is a blocked rule?

A blocked rule is an automation rule that can't execute because something is preventing it from working. When a rule is blocked, money won't be automatically transferred to that account until you resolve the issue.

- **Visual indicator**: Blocked rules show a block icon instead of their usual icon
- **Error message**: Each blocked rule displays an explanation of what's wrong
- **No money movement**: Blocked rules are skipped during deposit processing

You can still add money to affected accounts manually. Blocked rules only prevent automatic transfers.

## Common reasons rules get blocked

Rules can become blocked for several reasons. Here's what each means and how to fix it.

### Account deleted

**Message**: "An account on this rule has been deleted."

This happens when you delete a Savings Pot or Investment Account that had an automation rule attached to it. The rule still exists but has nowhere to send money.

**How to fix**: Delete the blocked rule by tapping the trash icon, then create a new rule pointing to a different account if needed.

### No savings target set

**Message**: "Set up your [Account name] target to enable this rule."

Target rules fill an account up to a specific amount. If you haven't set a target for the account, the rule doesn't know when to stop transferring.

This applies to:

- Emergency Savings
- Savings pots
- Tax-Free Savings (contribution target)

**How to fix**:

1. Navigate to the account mentioned in the error message
2. Tap **Set Target** or access the target settings
3. Enter your target amount
4. Tap **Save**

Your rule will automatically unblock once the target is set.

### Investment strategy not set

**Message**: "Set up your tax-free investments strategy to enable this rule."

For Tax-Free Savings accounts, you need to select which funds to invest in before automation rules can transfer money there. Without a strategy, the system doesn't know what to buy with incoming money.

**How to fix**:

1. Navigate to your **Tax-Free Savings** account
2. Complete the investment strategy setup
3. Choose your funds and allocation

Once your strategy is set, the rule will unblock automatically.

### Account not set up

**Message**: "Set up your tax-free investments to enable this rule."

This appears when you have a rule pointing to Tax-Free Savings, but you haven't completed the TFSA onboarding process. You may have created the rule during initial setup, but the account isn't ready to receive funds.

**How to fix**:

1. Navigate to your **Tax-Free Savings** account
2. Complete the onboarding steps (accept terms, set strategy)
3. Finish the account setup

The rule will work once your TFSA is fully set up.

### Duplicate target rule

**Message**: "You can only have one target rule per account."

You can only have one target rule per account. If you try to create a second target rule for the same account, one of them will be blocked.

**How to fix**:

1. Review your automation rules list
2. Identify the duplicate rules (both pointing to the same account)
3. Delete one of the duplicate rules by tapping the trash icon

Keep the rule that matches your current savings goal.

### Rule will never be reached

**Message**: "This rule will never be reached, because the above rules will always allocate your whole deposit."

Automation rules run in order from top to bottom. If rules above this one will always use 100% of your deposit, this rule will never receive any money to process.

This commonly happens when:

- A percentage rule above it allocates 100% across accounts
- Multiple target rules above it will always consume the full deposit

**How to fix**:

Option 1: **Reorder your rules**

1. On the automation rules screen, tap and hold the blocked rule
2. Drag it above the 100% rule
3. Release to save the new order

Option 2: **Adjust the percentage rule above**

1. Delete the rule that allocates 100%
2. Create a new rule with a lower percentage, leaving room for subsequent rules

### Account locked

When an account is locked (for example, due to compliance review or account restrictions), automation rules pointing to it will be blocked until the account is unlocked.

**How to fix**: Contact Fynbos support to understand why your account is locked and what steps are needed to unlock it.

## How to identify blocked rules

To see if any of your automation rules are blocked:

1. Navigate to the **Automation rules** screen from your home screen
2. Look for rules displaying a block icon instead of their usual icon
3. Read the error message below the rule to understand why it's blocked

Blocked rules are still shown in your rule order but are skipped during deposit processing. Money that would have gone to a blocked rule continues to the next active rule, or to Emergency Savings if it's the last rule.

## What happens to my money when rules are blocked?

When a rule is blocked, your deposits still process, but money is distributed differently:

- **Target rules blocked**: The rule is skipped, and money goes to the next rule in order
- **Percentage rules blocked**: The percentage that would go to the blocked rule goes to the next rule instead
- **All rules blocked**: Any leftover money transfers to your Emergency Savings account

Your money is never lost. It either follows your other active rules or lands safely in Emergency Savings.