Category and Vendor Controls

Merchant category restrictions

Every card transaction carries a Merchant Category Code (MCC) that identifies the type of business. SKOOR lets you block or allow entire MCC categories per card. For example, you can create a fuel-only card that works at gas stations but declines at restaurants, entertainment venues, and online retailers. Categories include fuel, travel, office supplies, advertising, food and dining, hardware, and dozens more.

Category restrictions are enforced at the network level, meaning the transaction is declined before it ever reaches your account. This is not a retroactive flag; it is a hard block at the point of sale.

Vendor allowlists and blocklists

Beyond category controls, you can allowlist or blocklist specific vendors by name. An allowlisted card only works at the vendors you specify. A blocklisted card works everywhere except the vendors you block. Vendor matching uses the merchant name transmitted with each transaction.

Vendor locks are the strictest form of control: lock a card to a single vendor, and it cannot be used anywhere else. This is useful for maintenance supply cards, cleaning service cards, or any recurring vendor relationship where you want zero flexibility for misuse.

Per-card restrictions

Each card on your account can have its own unique combination of category and vendor rules. A fleet fuel card might allow gas stations only. An office card might block travel and entertainment. A vendor-specific card might be locked to a single supplier. Rules are set from the card detail view in the dashboard and take effect immediately.

How controls affect your score

Tighter controls signal disciplined spending to the SKOOR scoring engine. Accounts that use category restrictions and vendor locks tend to have more predictable spending patterns, which the Business Health Score rewards. The SKOOR AI agent may recommend adding controls if it detects spending in unexpected categories.