Background

In card issuing scenarios, it's often necessary to restrict card usage to specific merchant categories for security, regulatory, or business strategy reasons. UQPAY supports MCC (Merchant Category Code) controls at the card level, allowing issuers to define which types of merchants are allowed or blocked for a card.

Purpose

These parameters enable issuers to apply precise control over merchant categories a card can be used with, helping prevent unauthorized transactions and ensuring spending aligns with the intended use of the card.

Usage

• Required: Optional

• Type: Array of strings

• Application:

  • Can be set during card creation (Create Card) or card update (Update Card).

• Mutual Exclusivity:

  • allowed_mcc and blocked_mcc CANNOT be set at the same time.

  • Either one can be set, or both can be omitted.

Parameter: allowed_mcc

• Description: Defines a whitelist of merchant category codes that the card is permitted to transact with.

• If this field is set, transactions with MCCs not included in this list will be declined (ONLY the whitelisted MCCs will be accepted).

Parameter: blocked_mcc

• Description: Defines a blacklist of merchant category codes that the card is prohibited from transacting with.

• If this field is set, transactions with MCCs included in this list will be declined.

Example

Example notification for a declined transaction triggered by blocked MCCs ("6551", "5533").

{
  "risk_controls": {
    "blocked_mcc": ["6551","5533"]
  }
}

{
  "version": "V1.6.0",
  "event_name": "ISSUING",
  "event_type": "issuing.transaction.authorization",
  "event_id": "9f0b529f-ad56-42f3-bef7-31393d543f40",
  "source_id": "07560ca4-5905-416f-a969-157094667d66",
  "data": {
    "authorization_code": "",
    "billing_amount": "0",
    "billing_currency": "SGD",
    "card_available_balance": "993.88",
    "card_id": "4e8f8c99-47e2-40a2-990d-c6f3e821a510",
    "card_number": "40963608****9191",
    "cardholder_id": "860d89d6-4489-48df-87b1-54704ebb3277",
    "description": "Forbid MCC from account",
    "fee_pass_through": "N",
    "merchant_data": [
      {
        "category_code": "5999",
        "city": "CITY NAME",
        "country": "US",
        "name": "ACQUIRER NAME"
      }
    ],
    "original_transaction_id": "",
    "posted_time": "2025-07-22T20:29:21+08:00",
    "short_transaction_id": "T250722-BGHBRPS2",
    "transaction_amount": "3",
    "transaction_currency": "SGD",
    "transaction_fee": "0",
    "transaction_fee_currency": "",
    "transaction_id": "07560ca4-5905-416f-a969-157094667d66",
    "transaction_status": "DECLINED",
    "transaction_time": "2025-07-22T20:29:21+08:00",
    "transaction_type": "AUTHORIZATION",
    "wallet_type": ""
  }
}

Related Links

• Create Card

• Update Card

• Retrieve Card