The Visa® Prepaid Card blocks and allows purchases at the merchant level. This means the Card can't control the specific items the cardholder buys at a given merchant. For example, it isn't possible to block the purchase of gift cards, because gift cards are a retail item purchased from a merchant.
In this article, you'll learn why Spending Settings work at the merchant level and a few ways to manage purchases at merchants that sell many different kinds of items.
Why the Card can't block specific items
Spending Settings decide whether to allow a purchase based on the merchant and the merchant's category, not the items in the purchase. If a merchant is allowed, the cardholder can buy anything that merchant sells.
Ways to manage purchases at these merchants
Sometimes the cardholder needs to shop at a merchant that also sells items you'd rather they not buy (e.g., buying groceries at a store that sells many different types of merchandise). Here are a few ways to manage spending at these merchants.
Ask for itemized receipts
Ask the cardholder for an itemized receipt for any purchases made at certain merchants. An itemized receipt lists each item purchased, so you can see exactly what was bought, not just the total.
Block the category and allow specific merchants
Block the spending category for merchants that sell items the cardholder shouldn't have access to, then use Merchant Exceptions to allow only the merchants in that category you're comfortable with.
For example, if you don't want the cardholder to be able to buy alcohol:
- Block the grocery stores spending category.
- Add grocery stores that you know don't sell alcohol as Merchant Exceptions, and select Always allow.
Set a per-purchase limit at a merchant
When you allow a merchant with a Merchant Exception, you can choose to allow transactions only up to a specific dollar amount. This lets the cardholder make routine purchases at that merchant while keeping larger purchases in check.
Get alerts for larger purchases
You can set up alerts to receive an email or text message when the Card is used for a transaction above an amount you choose, so you can follow up with the cardholder if something looks unexpected.
What happens next
From here, you may want to:
- Block or allow spending categories – choose which types of merchants the Card can be used at.
- Add a Merchant Exception – allow or block a specific merchant, or set a per-purchase limit there.
If you have any questions about managing the cardholder's purchases, please don't hesitate to contact our Customer Support team.