diff --git a/includes/Services/TicketService.php b/includes/Services/TicketService.php
index 37a625b..67bff27 100644
--- a/includes/Services/TicketService.php
+++ b/includes/Services/TicketService.php
@@ -70,9 +70,32 @@ public function create_guest(array $data): object
         $priority = $data['priority'] ?? \Escalated\Models\Setting::get('default_priority', 'medium');
         $valid_priorities = array_keys(\Escalated\Helpers\Enums::ticket_priorities());
 
+        // Apply the admin-configured guest policy from the
+        // public-tickets settings page. Persisted under three keys:
+        //   - guest_policy_mode: unassigned | guest_user | prompt_signup
+        //   - guest_policy_user_id: WordPress user id for guest_user mode
+        //   - guest_policy_signup_url_template: for prompt_signup mode
+        //
+        // Modes:
+        //   - unassigned (default): requester_id = null
+        //   - guest_user: requester_id = configured shared WordPress user
+        //   - prompt_signup: same as unassigned for ticket creation;
+        //     signup-invite emission is a listener-level follow-up
+        //
+        // Misconfigured guest_user (zero/missing id) falls through to
+        // unassigned so bad admin input can't 500 public submissions.
+        $requester_id = null;
+        $policy_mode = \Escalated\Models\Setting::get('guest_policy_mode', 'unassigned');
+        if ($policy_mode === 'guest_user') {
+            $guest_user_id = (int) \Escalated\Models\Setting::get('guest_policy_user_id', 0);
+            if ($guest_user_id > 0) {
+                $requester_id = $guest_user_id;
+            }
+        }
+
         $ticket_data = [
             'reference' => $reference,
-            'requester_id' => null,
+            'requester_id' => $requester_id,
             'subject' => sanitize_text_field($data['subject']),
             'description' => wp_kses_post($data['description']),
             'status' => 'open',
diff --git a/tests/Test_Ticket_Service.php b/tests/Test_Ticket_Service.php
index 7991c39..bdf711e 100644
--- a/tests/Test_Ticket_Service.php
+++ b/tests/Test_Ticket_Service.php
@@ -192,6 +192,72 @@ public function test_guest_ticket_findable_by_token(): void
         $this->assertEquals($ticket->id, $found->id);
     }
 
+    // Guest-policy wiring tests — the admin settings page writes three
+    // keys that create_guest() must read so the setting has actual
+    // behavioral effect.
+
+    public function test_create_guest_defaults_to_unassigned_mode(): void
+    {
+        // No setting written → default behavior (requester_id null).
+        $ticket = $this->service->create_guest([
+            'subject' => 'Default mode',
+            'description' => 'd',
+            'guest_name' => 'Alice',
+            'guest_email' => 'alice@example.com',
+        ]);
+
+        $this->assertNull($ticket->requester_id);
+        $this->assertEquals('alice@example.com', $ticket->guest_email);
+    }
+
+    public function test_create_guest_routes_to_host_user_in_guest_user_mode(): void
+    {
+        $user_id = self::factory()->user->create(['user_email' => 'support@site.test']);
+        \Escalated\Models\Setting::set('guest_policy_mode', 'guest_user');
+        \Escalated\Models\Setting::set('guest_policy_user_id', (string) $user_id);
+
+        $ticket = $this->service->create_guest([
+            'subject' => 'Guest user mode',
+            'description' => 'd',
+            'guest_name' => 'Bob',
+            'guest_email' => 'bob@example.com',
+        ]);
+
+        $this->assertEquals($user_id, (int) $ticket->requester_id);
+        // guest_email is still recorded so agents see who submitted.
+        $this->assertEquals('bob@example.com', $ticket->guest_email);
+    }
+
+    public function test_create_guest_falls_through_when_guest_user_id_missing(): void
+    {
+        \Escalated\Models\Setting::set('guest_policy_mode', 'guest_user');
+        \Escalated\Models\Setting::set('guest_policy_user_id', '0');
+
+        $ticket = $this->service->create_guest([
+            'subject' => 'Misconfigured guest_user',
+            'description' => 'd',
+            'guest_name' => 'Charlie',
+            'guest_email' => 'charlie@example.com',
+        ]);
+
+        $this->assertNull($ticket->requester_id);
+    }
+
+    public function test_create_guest_prompt_signup_uses_unassigned_path(): void
+    {
+        \Escalated\Models\Setting::set('guest_policy_mode', 'prompt_signup');
+
+        $ticket = $this->service->create_guest([
+            'subject' => 'Signup prompt mode',
+            'description' => 'd',
+            'guest_name' => 'Dana',
+            'guest_email' => 'dana@example.com',
+        ]);
+
+        $this->assertNull($ticket->requester_id);
+        $this->assertEquals('dana@example.com', $ticket->guest_email);
+    }
+
     // =========================================================================
     // Update Tests
     // =========================================================================