Retire proved unconnected legs without clearing ambiguous outcomes

When a runtime retires a fenced operational claim separately from cost reconciliation, classify terminal unanswered legs by connection evidence rather than treating every pending accounting label as unfinished cleanup. A proved provider rejection can leave a reconciliation label for later cost records while requiring no connected-duration write; the claim may proceed once the refreshed leg is terminal. An ambiguous provider outcome must stay retryable because the connection may still have occurred. Check the refreshed state after cleanup before accepting either disposition. This rule does not settle eventual carrier charges or excuse incomplete resource cleanup.

Applies when: A recovery loop handles terminal unanswered legs and delayed billing reconciliation. Keywords: terminal unanswered unconnected ambiguous outcome reconciliation claim retirement recovery fence