diff --git a/apps/machine/src/services/__tests__/settlement-watch.test.ts b/apps/machine/src/services/__tests__/settlement-watch.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..87a136b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/machine/src/services/__tests__/settlement-watch.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest'
+import { initialContext, type ATMContext } from '@bitSpire/state-machine'
+import type { LnbitsClient, LnbitsPayment } from '@bitSpire/lnbits'
+import { createATMServices } from '../lightning'
+
+/**
+ * The cash-out settlement watch (2026-09-22 regression).
+ *
+ * A one-tap Bolt Card Complete settles in about a second; subscribing over
+ * nostr takes several. When the watch was armed at display time the push —
+ * an ephemeral event with no replay — fired before anything listened, and the
+ * machine sat on a paid invoice until it timed out, taking the sats without
+ * dispensing. These pin the three defences: arm before the invoice is handed
+ * out, latch a settlement that still beats the consumer, and poll so a push
+ * that never arrives cannot strand a payment.
+ */
+
+const BOLT11 = 'lnbc265u1p4t9gthpp5td44vd9a0s5er'
+const HASH = 'aa'.repeat(32)
+
+const paid = (preimage = 'PREIMAGE'): LnbitsPayment =>
+  ({ payment_hash: HASH, status: 'success', preimage }) as LnbitsPayment
+
+function makeLnbits(over: Partial<Record<string, unknown>> = {}) {
+  let pushTo: ((p: LnbitsPayment) => void) | null = null
+  const api = {
+    createInvoice: vi.fn(async () => ({ payment_request: BOLT11, payment_hash: HASH })),
+    subscribePayments: vi.fn(
+      async (_w: unknown, _f: unknown, onPush: (p: LnbitsPayment) => void) => {
+        pushTo = onPush
+        return 'sub-1'
+      }
+    ),
+    getPayment: vi.fn(async (): Promise<LnbitsPayment | null> => null),
+    unsubscribe: vi.fn(async () => true),
+    decodePayment: vi.fn(async () => ({ payment_hash: HASH })),
+    ...over,
+  }
+  return { api, push: (p: LnbitsPayment) => pushTo?.(p) }
+}
+
+const ctx = (): ATMContext => ({ ...initialContext, satsAmount: 26_500, exchangeRate: 1325 })
+
+const services = (l: { api: Record<string, unknown> }) =>
+  createATMServices(vi.fn(), l.api as unknown as LnbitsClient, 'wallet-1')
+
+beforeEach(() => vi.useFakeTimers())
+afterEach(() => vi.useRealTimers())
+
+describe('cash-out settlement watch', () => {
+  it('is armed before the invoice is handed out, without decoding it back', async () => {
+    const l = makeLnbits()
+    const invoice = await services(l).generateInvoice(ctx())
+
+    expect(invoice).toBe(BOLT11)
+    // Armed during generateInvoice, not later at display time.
+    expect(l.api.subscribePayments).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(l.api.subscribePayments.mock.calls[0]![1]).toMatchObject({ payment_hash: HASH })
+    // The hash came from the creation response, so no round trip to recover it.
+    expect(l.api.decodePayment).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('replays a settlement that beat the consumer (the race that lost payments)', async () => {
+    const l = makeLnbits()
+    const svc = services(l)
+    const invoice = await svc.generateInvoice(ctx())
+
+    // Card pays before the machine reaches displayingInvoice.
+    l.push(paid())
+
+    const onPaid = vi.fn()
+    svc.watchInvoice(invoice, onPaid)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0)
+
+    expect(onPaid).toHaveBeenCalledWith('PREIMAGE')
+  })
+
+  it('delivers a push that arrives while the consumer is attached', async () => {
+    const l = makeLnbits()
+    const svc = services(l)
+    const invoice = await svc.generateInvoice(ctx())
+
+    const onPaid = vi.fn()
+    svc.watchInvoice(invoice, onPaid)
+    l.push(paid('LATER'))
+
+    expect(onPaid).toHaveBeenCalledWith('LATER')
+  })
+
+  it('settles from the poll when no push ever arrives', async () => {
+    const l = makeLnbits()
+    l.api.getPayment = vi.fn(async () => paid('VIA-POLL'))
+    const svc = services(l)
+    const invoice = await svc.generateInvoice(ctx())
+
+    const onPaid = vi.fn()
+    svc.watchInvoice(invoice, onPaid)
+    expect(onPaid).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(7_000)
+    expect(onPaid).toHaveBeenCalledWith('VIA-POLL')
+  })
+
+  it('polls even when arming the subscription fails', async () => {
+    const l = makeLnbits()
+    l.api.subscribePayments = vi.fn(async () => {
+      throw new Error('relay down')
+    })
+    l.api.getPayment = vi.fn(async () => paid('VIA-POLL'))
+    const svc = services(l)
+    const invoice = await svc.generateInvoice(ctx())
+
+    const onPaid = vi.fn()
+    svc.watchInvoice(invoice, onPaid)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(7_000)
+
+    expect(onPaid).toHaveBeenCalledWith('VIA-POLL')
+  })
+
+  it('reports each settlement once, whichever path saw it first', async () => {
+    const l = makeLnbits()
+    l.api.getPayment = vi.fn(async () => paid('VIA-POLL'))
+    const svc = services(l)
+    const invoice = await svc.generateInvoice(ctx())
+
+    const onPaid = vi.fn()
+    svc.watchInvoice(invoice, onPaid)
+    l.push(paid('VIA-PUSH'))
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(20_000)
+
+    expect(onPaid).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(onPaid).toHaveBeenCalledWith('VIA-PUSH')
+  })
+
+  it('stops polling and unsubscribes when the transaction ends', async () => {
+    const l = makeLnbits()
+    const svc = services(l)
+    const invoice = await svc.generateInvoice(ctx())
+    const stop = svc.watchInvoice(invoice, vi.fn())
+
+    stop()
+    expect(l.api.unsubscribe).toHaveBeenCalledWith(undefined, 'sub-1')
+
+    const pollsAfterStop = (l.api.getPayment as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls.length
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(30_000)
+    expect((l.api.getPayment as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls.length).toBe(pollsAfterStop)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/apps/machine/src/services/lightning.ts b/apps/machine/src/services/lightning.ts
index aa6b52c..ee9a441 100644
--- a/apps/machine/src/services/lightning.ts
+++ b/apps/machine/src/services/lightning.ts
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ export interface LightningBackend {
   }): Promise<{ paymentRequest: string; paymentHash?: string }>
   payInvoice(
     bolt11: string,
-    amountSats: number,
+    amountSats: number
   ): Promise<{ success: boolean; preimage?: string; error?: string }>
 }
 
@@ -434,12 +434,12 @@ export async function initializeLightningServices(options?: {
   console.log(
     '[Lightning] Relay(s):',
     relays.join(', '),
-    envRelay ? '(env)' : transport?.relays.length ? '(pairing)' : '(default)',
+    envRelay ? '(env)' : transport?.relays.length ? '(pairing)' : '(default)'
   )
   console.log(
     '[Lightning] LNbits server pubkey:',
     CONFIG.lnbitsServerPubkey || '(not configured)',
-    envPubkey ? '(env)' : transport?.lnbitsServerPubkey ? '(pairing)' : '',
+    envPubkey ? '(env)' : transport?.lnbitsServerPubkey ? '(pairing)' : ''
   )
   // Operator pubkey provenance. Today the ONLY source is VITE_OPERATOR_PUBKEYS
   // (env). An empty set disables the fees/operator-config services → the machine
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ export async function initializeLightningServices(options?: {
     '[Lightning] Operator pubkey(s):',
     CONFIG.operatorPubkeys.length
       ? CONFIG.operatorPubkeys.join(', ') + ' (env)'
-      : '(none — fee/operator config gated until a server-delivered operator pubkey; #70 P1)',
+      : '(none — fee/operator config gated until a server-delivered operator pubkey; #70 P1)'
   )
 
   // Strict mode: validate the RESOLVED config is production-ready (no
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ export async function initializeLightningServices(options?: {
   if (!CONFIG.lnbitsServerPubkey) {
     throw new Error(
       '[Lightning] LNbits server pubkey is required — set VITE_LNBITS_SERVER_PUBKEY ' +
-        'or pair with a seed that carries lnbits_npub (aiolabs/bitspire#70).',
+        'or pair with a seed that carries lnbits_npub (aiolabs/bitspire#70).'
     )
   }
 
@@ -542,7 +542,11 @@ export async function initializeLightningServices(options?: {
       const mc = await lnbits.getMachineConfig()
       if (mc.operator_pubkey) {
         CONFIG.operatorPubkeys = [mc.operator_pubkey]
-        console.log('[Lightning] Operator pubkey(s):', mc.operator_pubkey, '(server-delivered, #70 P1)')
+        console.log(
+          '[Lightning] Operator pubkey(s):',
+          mc.operator_pubkey,
+          '(server-delivered, #70 P1)'
+        )
       }
       if (mc.fee_config && isElectron && window.electronAPI) {
         // Persist the server-delivered fee config so atm.ts's awaiting-fees gate
@@ -555,17 +559,17 @@ export async function initializeLightningServices(options?: {
             cashOutFeeFraction: mc.fee_config.cash_out_fee_fraction,
             schemaVersion: mc.fee_config.schema_version,
           },
-          mc.created_at,
+          mc.created_at
         )
         console.log(
           '[Lightning] Server-delivered fee config:',
-          applied.applied ? 'applied' : `skipped (${applied.reason})`,
+          applied.applied ? 'applied' : `skipped (${applied.reason})`
         )
       }
     } catch (e) {
       console.warn(
         '[Lightning] get_machine_config unavailable; falling back to env/kind-30078 for operator config:',
-        (e as Error).message,
+        (e as Error).message
       )
     }
   }
@@ -671,7 +675,7 @@ export async function initializeLightningServices(options?: {
       }
     },
     lnbits,
-    lnbitsWalletId,
+    lnbitsWalletId
   )
 
   return {
@@ -706,13 +710,142 @@ export async function initializeLightningServices(options?: {
 /**
  * Create ATMServices implementation using the LNbits nostr-transport.
  */
-function createATMServices(
+export function createATMServices(
   onPaymentSuccess: (preimage: string) => void,
   lnbits: LnbitsClient,
-  lnbitsWalletId: string,
+  lnbitsWalletId: string
 ): ATMServices {
   const onPaymentCallback = onPaymentSuccess
 
+  // ── Cash-out settlement watch ───────────────────────────────────────────
+  /**
+   * A watch on one cash-out invoice, armed the moment the invoice exists and
+   * consumed later by the state machine's `displayingInvoice` actor.
+   *
+   * Arming at creation rather than at display closes a race that swallowed
+   * real payments on 2026-09-22 (sintra). Subscribing costs a nostr round
+   * trip — about four seconds against a remote relay — while a one-tap Bolt
+   * Card Complete settles in roughly one. The settlement push is an ephemeral
+   * event with no replay, so it fired before anything was listening and the
+   * machine sat on a paid invoice until it timed out, taking the sats without
+   * dispensing. The old two-tap flow only worked because fumbling with the
+   * card covered the gap.
+   *
+   * Three defences, in order: the invoice is not returned until its watch is
+   * armed; a settlement that still beats the UI is latched and replayed when
+   * the consumer attaches; and a poll runs alongside the subscription so a
+   * lost or unsent push cannot strand a payment either way.
+   */
+  interface InvoiceWatch {
+    paymentHash: string
+    subId: string | null
+    /** Preimage seen before a consumer attached; replayed on attach. */
+    settled: string | null
+    consumer: ((preimage: string) => void) | null
+    poll: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null
+    released: boolean
+  }
+  const invoiceWatches = new Map<string, InvoiceWatch>()
+
+  // Backstop cadence. One cheap RPC; on the money path a little extra relay
+  // traffic is worth far more than a payment that lands with no cash.
+  const SETTLEMENT_POLL_MS = 6_000
+
+  function stopInvoiceWatchPoll(watch: InvoiceWatch): void {
+    if (watch.poll) {
+      clearInterval(watch.poll)
+      watch.poll = null
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** Deliver a settlement exactly once, to the consumer or into the latch. */
+  function settleInvoiceWatch(watch: InvoiceWatch, preimage: string, via: string): void {
+    if (watch.released || watch.settled) return
+    watch.settled = preimage
+    stopInvoiceWatchPoll(watch)
+    console.log(`[ATM Service] Invoice paid (${via})!`)
+    watch.consumer?.(preimage)
+  }
+
+  function startInvoiceWatchPoll(watch: InvoiceWatch): void {
+    let inFlight = false
+    watch.poll = setInterval(() => {
+      if (inFlight || watch.settled || watch.released) return
+      inFlight = true
+      void lnbits
+        .getPayment(watch.paymentHash)
+        .then((payment) => {
+          if (payment?.status === 'success') {
+            settleInvoiceWatch(watch, payment.preimage ?? 'payment-confirmed', 'poll')
+          }
+        })
+        .catch(() => {
+          /* transport blip — the next tick retries */
+        })
+        .finally(() => {
+          inFlight = false
+        })
+    }, SETTLEMENT_POLL_MS)
+  }
+
+  /** Arm the watch for a freshly created invoice. Resolves once it is live. */
+  async function armInvoiceWatch(bolt11: string, paymentHash: string): Promise<void> {
+    const startedAt = Date.now()
+    const watch: InvoiceWatch = {
+      paymentHash,
+      subId: null,
+      settled: null,
+      consumer: null,
+      poll: null,
+      released: false,
+    }
+    invoiceWatches.set(bolt11, watch)
+    try {
+      // walletId omitted: payment_hash is the natural primary key for "wait
+      // for THIS invoice to settle." Under path B
+      // (NOSTR_TRANSPORT_ROSTER_REQUIRED=true) lnbits routes the payment to
+      // the operator's wallet, so a subscription scoped to the ATM's
+      // pre-override wallet_id would AND-filter the settlement out and never
+      // fire. With wallet_id omitted, lnbits resolves the wallet from
+      // get_standalone_payment(payment_hash) and ownership-checks against the
+      // auth'd account — works on both pre/post-override wallets.
+      // Coordination log 2026-05-31T18:50Z (lnbits) for the confirmation,
+      // §18:35Z for the joint smoke that surfaced the bug.
+      watch.subId = await lnbits.subscribePayments(
+        undefined,
+        { payment_hash: paymentHash, max_seconds: 600 },
+        (push) => {
+          if (push.payment_hash !== paymentHash || push.status !== 'success') return
+          settleInvoiceWatch(watch, push.preimage ?? 'payment-confirmed', 'LNbits push')
+        },
+        (reason) => console.log(`[ATM Service] Settlement subscription closed (${reason})`)
+      )
+      console.log(
+        `[ATM Service] Settlement watch armed in ${Date.now() - startedAt} ms ` +
+          `(hash ${paymentHash.slice(0, 12)}…)`
+      )
+    } catch (e) {
+      // The poll below then carries settlement on its own, which is exactly
+      // why it runs whether or not the subscription came up.
+      console.error('[ATM Service] Settlement subscribe failed — polling only:', e)
+    }
+    startInvoiceWatchPoll(watch)
+  }
+
+  /** Tear a watch down: the transaction ended, one way or another. */
+  function releaseInvoiceWatch(bolt11: string): void {
+    const watch = invoiceWatches.get(bolt11)
+    if (!watch) return
+    watch.released = true
+    watch.consumer = null
+    stopInvoiceWatchPoll(watch)
+    invoiceWatches.delete(bolt11)
+    if (watch.subId) {
+      // wallet_id omitted to match the subscribePayments call above.
+      void lnbits.unsubscribe(undefined, watch.subId).catch(() => {})
+    }
+  }
+
   return {
     /**
      * 3b.4: ndebit cash-in path removed. CashInView.vue ignores this
@@ -806,7 +939,7 @@ function createATMServices(
               if (onPaymentCallback) {
                 onPaymentCallback(push.preimage ?? `lnurl-withdraw-${link.link_id}`)
               }
-            },
+            }
           )
           // Wire per-session cleanup so abort/expiry tears it down cleanly.
           const session = lnurlSessions.get(link.link_id)
@@ -849,15 +982,14 @@ function createATMServices(
      *                                            matches machine fiat_code
      *   - `type: "cash_out"` / `source: "bitspire"` — discriminators
      */
+    // (see armInvoiceWatch below — the watch is armed before this resolves)
     generateInvoice: async (context: ATMContext): Promise<string> => {
       const amountSats = context.satsAmount
       // Cash-out: satsAmount = principal + commission. principal is
       // derived from the raw market rate (no commission baked in) so a
       // consumer can independently audit the split.
       const principalSats =
-        context.exchangeRate > 0
-          ? Math.floor((context.fiatCents / 100) * context.exchangeRate)
-          : 0
+        context.exchangeRate > 0 ? Math.floor((context.fiatCents / 100) * context.exchangeRate) : 0
       const feeSats = Math.max(0, amountSats - principalSats)
       console.log(
         '[ATM Service] Generating invoice — gross',
@@ -897,6 +1029,17 @@ function createATMServices(
       if (!payment.payment_request) {
         throw new Error('LNbits createInvoice returned empty payment_request')
       }
+      // Arm the settlement watch BEFORE the invoice reaches the screen, and
+      // take the payment hash from the response we already have rather than
+      // spending a round trip decoding it back off the bolt11. See
+      // armInvoiceWatch for why the timing matters.
+      if (payment.payment_hash) {
+        await armInvoiceWatch(payment.payment_request, payment.payment_hash)
+      } else {
+        console.error(
+          '[ATM Service] createInvoice returned no payment_hash — settlement watch will arm late'
+        )
+      }
       return payment.payment_request
     },
 
@@ -1063,15 +1206,30 @@ function createATMServices(
      * push, filtered by payment_hash. Returns a cleanup function.
      */
     watchInvoice: (invoice: string, callback: (preimage: string) => void): (() => void) => {
-      console.log('[ATM Service] Watching invoice for payment:', invoice.slice(0, 32) + '...')
-
       if (!invoice.toLowerCase().startsWith('ln')) {
         console.error('[ATM Service] Invalid invoice format - expected BOLT11')
         return () => {}
       }
+      console.log('[ATM Service] Watching invoice for payment:', invoice.slice(0, 32) + '...')
 
+      const armed = invoiceWatches.get(invoice)
+      if (armed) {
+        armed.consumer = callback
+        // Settled between arming and display (a one-tap card pull can beat the
+        // state transition): replay the latched settlement instead of waiting
+        // on a push that has already come and gone.
+        if (armed.settled) {
+          const preimage = armed.settled
+          queueMicrotask(() => callback(preimage))
+        }
+        return () => releaseInvoiceWatch(invoice)
+      }
+
+      // No armed watch: an invoice this service didn't create. Recover the
+      // hash over the wire and arm now. This is the pre-2026-09-22 behaviour
+      // and carries the race that arming-at-creation fixes, so say so.
+      console.warn('[ATM Service] No armed settlement watch for this invoice — arming late')
       let cancelled = false
-      let subId: string | null = null
       ;(async () => {
         try {
           const decoded = await lnbits.decodePayment(invoice)
@@ -1081,36 +1239,18 @@ function createATMServices(
             return
           }
           if (cancelled) return
-          // walletId omitted: payment_hash is the natural primary key for
-          // "wait for THIS invoice to settle." Under path B
-          // (NOSTR_TRANSPORT_ROSTER_REQUIRED=true) lnbits routes the payment
-          // to the operator's wallet, so a subscription scoped to the ATM's
-          // pre-override wallet_id would AND-filter the settlement out and
-          // never fire. With wallet_id omitted, lnbits resolves the wallet
-          // from get_standalone_payment(payment_hash) and ownership-checks
-          // against the auth'd account — works on both pre/post-override
-          // wallets. Coordination log 2026-05-31T18:50Z (lnbits) for the
-          // confirmation, §18:35Z for the joint smoke that surfaced the bug.
-          subId = await lnbits.subscribePayments(
-            undefined,
-            { payment_hash: paymentHash, max_seconds: 600 },
-            (push) => {
-              if (push.payment_hash !== paymentHash) return
-              if (push.status !== 'success') return
-              console.log('[ATM Service] Invoice paid (LNbits push)!')
-              callback(push.preimage ?? 'payment-confirmed')
-            },
-          )
+          await armInvoiceWatch(invoice, paymentHash)
+          const late = invoiceWatches.get(invoice)
+          if (!late || cancelled) return
+          late.consumer = callback
+          if (late.settled) callback(late.settled)
         } catch (e) {
           console.error('[ATM Service] LNbits watchInvoice failed:', e)
         }
       })()
       return () => {
         cancelled = true
-        if (subId) {
-          // wallet_id omitted to match the subscribePayments call above.
-          void lnbits.unsubscribe(undefined, subId).catch(() => {})
-        }
+        releaseInvoiceWatch(invoice)
       }
     },
 
diff --git a/apps/machine/src/stores/atm.ts b/apps/machine/src/stores/atm.ts
index c868322..f9af8cb 100644
--- a/apps/machine/src/stores/atm.ts
+++ b/apps/machine/src/stores/atm.ts
@@ -343,6 +343,12 @@ export const useAtmStore = defineStore('atm', () => {
   // The card balance is hidden by default on the public screen; the holder
   // reveals it with the eye toggle. Resets on re-lock.
   const cardBalanceRevealed = ref(false)
+  // Set when a card accepted a cash-out pull and the machine then left the
+  // invoice screen without ever seeing the payment settle. The customer's
+  // wallet paid and no cash came out, so this must be visible and carry the
+  // reference an operator can reconcile against — never a silent return to
+  // the amount screen. Cleared when the next transaction starts.
+  const settlementError = ref<{ txid: string | null; message: string } | null>(null)
   // When the card server names a currency but didn't price the balance (its
   // rate cache was cold — it never blocks the unlock on a rate lookup), price
   // it here from the ATM's own rate source, in that currency.
@@ -663,6 +669,26 @@ export const useAtmStore = defineStore('atm', () => {
         (prevNestedState === 'displayingInvoice' && currentNested !== 'displayingInvoice') ||
         (prevNestedState === 'displayingQR' && currentNested !== 'displayingQR')
       if (leftBoltCardScreen) {
+        // The card accepted the pull (that's what leaves processing latched
+        // with an 'accepted' status) but we left the invoice screen for
+        // somewhere other than the dispenser: the payment was taken and no
+        // cash followed. Surface it with the txid instead of dropping the
+        // customer back on the amount screen as if nothing had happened.
+        if (
+          prevNestedState === 'displayingInvoice' &&
+          currentNested !== 'dispensingCash' &&
+          boltCardProcessing.value &&
+          nfcStatus.value?.state === 'accepted'
+        ) {
+          const txid = context.value?.txid ?? null
+          console.error(
+            `[ATM] Settlement never confirmed after the card accepted the pull — txid=${txid}`
+          )
+          settlementError.value = {
+            txid,
+            message: 'Your payment was accepted but the cash was not dispensed.',
+          }
+        }
         boltCardProcessing.value = false
         nfcStatus.value = null
       }
@@ -1786,10 +1812,12 @@ export const useAtmStore = defineStore('atm', () => {
 
   // Convenience methods for common events
   function selectCashIn() {
+    settlementError.value = null
     send({ type: 'SELECT_CASH_IN' })
   }
 
   function selectCashOut() {
+    settlementError.value = null
     send({ type: 'SELECT_CASH_OUT' })
   }
 
@@ -1942,6 +1970,7 @@ export const useAtmStore = defineStore('atm', () => {
     simulateBoltCardEntry,
 
     // Access control (ADR-003)
+    settlementError,
     accessControl,
     isLocked,
     grantAccess,
diff --git a/apps/machine/src/views/CashOutView.vue b/apps/machine/src/views/CashOutView.vue
index 50980ec..50a43a2 100644
--- a/apps/machine/src/views/CashOutView.vue
+++ b/apps/machine/src/views/CashOutView.vue
@@ -178,6 +178,24 @@ function formatFiat(cents: number): string {
           key="selectingAmount"
           class="flex flex-1 flex-col justify-center px-4 lg:px-[8vw] py-4 lg:py-6 gap-4 lg:gap-6"
         >
+          <!-- A payment was taken and no cash came out. Say so plainly, with
+               the reference an operator needs; do not let the customer wander
+               back into the amount grid believing nothing happened. -->
+          <div
+            v-if="atmStore.settlementError"
+            class="rounded-lg border-2 border-destructive bg-destructive/10 px-4 py-3 text-center lg:px-6 lg:py-4"
+          >
+            <p class="text-base font-bold text-destructive lg:text-2xl">
+              {{ atmStore.settlementError.message }}
+            </p>
+            <p class="mt-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground lg:text-lg">
+              Please contact the operator<template v-if="atmStore.settlementError.txid">
+                and quote
+                <span class="font-mono-code">{{ atmStore.settlementError.txid }}</span> </template
+              >.
+            </p>
+          </div>
+
           <!-- Denomination grid -->
           <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-3 lg:gap-6">
             <div