Vendor and category controls let you decide where team members can spend on their Relay cards. You can edit them from web or mobile in under a minute.
What you need before you start
Admin or Owner role on the Relay account
The Relay Visa® Credit Card or Relay Visa® Debit Card you want to update
The list of vendors or spending categories you want to allow or block
What are vendor and category controls?
Vendor and category controls are spending rules you set on a Relay Visa® Credit Card or Relay Visa® Debit Card so it only works at the merchants or merchant categories you approve. Use a vendor control to limit spending to a specific business, for example only Shell. Use a category control to limit spending to a merchant type, for example only gas stations.
How do I edit vendor and category controls on the Relay web app?
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 I edit vendor and category controls on the Relay 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.
What if the vendor or category I need isn't in the list?
You can request a new vendor or category from the same edit screen. Choose "Request a merchant/category" and submit the name. Relay's team reviews requests and adds supported merchants and categories over time.
Can I combine vendor and category controls on the same card?
You can apply multiple vendors or multiple categories to a single card, but a card can use only one control type at a time. A card is either restricted by vendor list or by category list. If a team member needs both a vendor restriction and a category restriction, issue a second card with the other rule set.
Common issues
Card declined right after saving controls. Confirm the merchant name matches the vendor spelling exactly, or check whether the merchant falls outside the allowed category.
Vendor or category not appearing in search. The merchant may not be in Relay's supported list yet. Submit a request from the same screen.
Team member says the card doesn't work anywhere. Confirm the rule saved (rather than closing the panel before saving), and confirm at least one vendor or category is enabled.
A specific purchase went through even after the rule was set. Pending transactions authorized before you saved settle on the original authorization. New rules apply only to purchases initiated after save.
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