Vendor and category controls block or allow specific merchants and spending categories on any Relay Visa Credit or Debit Card, and changes apply immediately.
What are vendor and category controls on Relay cards?
Vendor and category controls are spending restrictions you set on a Relay Visa® Credit Card or Relay Visa® Debit Card to limit where the card can be used. Each card supports one type of restriction at a time: you can control specific vendors, or you can control spending categories, but not both on the same card.
Use vendor controls to block or allow individual merchants (for example, a specific software subscription or gas station brand). Use category controls to block or allow merchant categories (for example, restaurants or travel).
What you need before you start
Owner or admin access on your Relay account, or a team member role with permission to edit cards
The Relay Visa® Credit Card or Relay Visa® Debit Card you want to update, already created and active
The specific list of vendors or categories you want to block or allow
How do you edit vendor and category controls on the web?
You can edit vendor and category controls from the Cards tab in your Relay web dashboard in about a minute.
Sign in to your Relay account.
Go to the Cards tab.
Select the card you want to edit.
Select the Controls tab and select Edit beside Vendor or category restrictions.
Edit the vendor or category controls for the card.
Click Save.
The updated controls apply to the card right away. No additional confirmation is required.
How do you edit vendor and category controls in the mobile app?
You can also edit vendor and category controls from the Relay mobile app in a few taps.
Sign in to the Relay mobile app.
Go to the Cards tab.
Select the card you want to edit.
Tap Spending controls.
Tap the first option under vendor or category controls.
Edit the controls for the card.
Tap Save.
The new controls take effect immediately, the same as on the web.
Common issues when editing vendor and category controls
The vendor you want is not in the list. Use the "Request a merchant/category" option on the same screen so Relay can add it to the selection list.
You want to set both vendor and category controls on the same card. Each Relay card supports one restriction type at a time. Pick vendor controls or category controls, or issue a second card for the other rule set.
A transaction is still declining after you removed a block. Confirm the card is not frozen, that the transaction category matches an allowed category, and that any other card limits are not being hit. See "Why did my card decline?" in the Help Centre for more troubleshooting.
You do not see the spending controls option on the card. Confirm your team member role includes permission to edit cards. Owners and admins have access by default; other roles may need to be updated by an owner.
Frequently asked questions
Do vendor and category controls work on both Relay Visa Credit and Debit Cards?
Yes. Vendor and category controls work the same way on the Relay Visa® Credit Card and the Relay Visa® Debit Card. The setup screens and steps are identical on both card types.
What should I do if a vendor is not available for me to select?
Use the "Request a merchant/category" option on the vendor controls screen to submit the merchant. Relay reviews the request and adds supported merchants to the selection list when possible.
Can I set multiple vendor or category controls on one card?
Yes. You can select multiple vendors, or multiple categories, on the same card. You cannot mix vendor and category restrictions on one card at the same time. Choose one control type per card, or create a second card if you need the other rule set.
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