Privacy Cards

---
name: privacy-cards-894d0f75e3d9
description: "Create and manage Privacy.com virtual cards. Use for generating single-use cards, merchant-locked cards, listing cards, setting spending limits, pausing/closing cards, and viewing transactions via the Privacy.com API."
---

# Privacy Cards

Manage virtual cards via the Privacy.com API.

## Setup

### Getting API Access

1. Sign up for a [Privacy.com](https://privacy.com) account
2. Email **support@privacy.com** to request API access
3. Once approved, you'll receive your API key

### Configuration

```bash
export PRIVACY_API_KEY="your-api-key"
```

**Environments:**
- Production: `https://api.privacy.com/v1`
- Sandbox: `https://sandbox.privacy.com/v1`

All requests: `Authorization: api-key $PRIVACY_API_KEY`

---

## Create a Card

```bash
curl -s -X POST "https://api.privacy.com/v1/cards" \
  -H "Authorization: api-key $PRIVACY_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "type": "SINGLE_USE",
    "memo": "One-time purchase",
    "spend_limit": 5000,
    "spend_limit_duration": "TRANSACTION"
  }' | jq
```

### Card Types
| Type | Behavior |
|------|----------|
| `SINGLE_USE` | Closes after first transaction |
| `MERCHANT_LOCKED` | Locks to first merchant, reusable there |
| `UNLOCKED` | Works anywhere (requires issuing access) |

### Create Parameters
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|-----------|----------|-------------|
| `type` | Yes | SINGLE_USE, MERCHANT_LOCKED, UNLOCKED |
| `memo` | No | Label/description |
| `spend_limit` | No | Limit in cents |
| `spend_limit_duration` | No | TRANSACTION, MONTHLY, ANNUALLY, FOREVER |
| `state` | No | OPEN (default) or PAUSED |
| `funding_token` | No | Specific funding source UUID |

### Response
```json
{
  "token": "card-uuid",
  "type": "SINGLE_USE",
  "state": "OPEN",
  "memo": "One-time purchase",
  "last_four": "1234",
  "pan": "4111111111111234",
  "cvv": "123",
  "exp_month": "12",
  "exp_year": "2027",
  "spend_limit": 5000,
  "spend_limit_duration": "TRANSACTION",
  "created": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"
}
```

> **Note:** `pan`, `cvv`, `exp_month`, `exp_year` require enterprise access in production. Always available in sandbox.

---

## Lookup Transactions

### All transactions for a card
```bash
curl -s "https://api.privacy.com/v1/transactions?card_token={card_token}" \
  -H "Authorization: api-key $PRIVACY_API_KEY" | jq
```

### Filter by date range
```bash
curl -s "https://api.privacy.com/v1/transactions?card_token={card_token}&begin=2024-01-01&end=2024-01-31" \
  -H "Authorization: api-key $PRIVACY_API_KEY" | jq
```

### Filter by result
```bash
# Only approved
curl -s "https://api.privacy.com/v1/transactions?result=APPROVED" \
  -H "Authorization: api-key $PRIVACY_API_KEY" | jq

# Only declined
curl -s "https://api.privacy.com/v1/transactions?result=DECLINED" \
  -H "Authorization: api-key $PRIVACY_API_KEY" | jq
```

### Query Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|-----------|-------------|
| `card_token` | Filter by card UUID |
| `result` | APPROVED or DECLINED |
| `begin` | On or after date (YYYY-MM-DD) |
| `end` | Before date (YYYY-MM-DD) |
| `page` | Page number (default: 1) |
| `page_size` | Results per page (1-1000, default: 50) |

### Transaction Response
```json
{
  "token": "txn-uuid",
  "card_token": "card-uuid",
  "amount": -2500,
  "status": "SETTLED",
  "result": "APPROVED",
  "merchant": {
    "descriptor": "NETFLIX.COM",
    "mcc": "4899",
    "city": "LOS GATOS",
    "state": "CA",
    "country": "USA"
  },
  "created": "2024-01-15T14:22:00Z"
}
```

### Transaction Statuses
`PENDING` → `SETTLING` → `SETTLED`

Also: `VOIDED`, `BOUNCED`, `DECLINED`

---

## Quick Reference

### List all cards
```bash
curl -s "https://api.privacy.com/v1/cards" \
  -H "Authorization: api-key $PRIVACY_API_KEY" | jq
```

### Get single card
```bash
curl -s "https://api.privacy.com/v1/cards/{card_token}" \
  -H "Authorization: api-key $PRIVACY_API_KEY" | jq
```

### Pause a card
```bash
curl -s -X PATCH "https://api.privacy.com/v1/cards/{card_token}" \
  -H "Authorization: api-key $PRIVACY_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"state": "PAUSED"}' | jq
```

### Close a card (permanent)
```bash
curl -s -X PATCH "https://api.privacy.com/v1/cards/{card_token}" \
  -H "Authorization: api-key $PRIVACY_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"state": "CLOSED"}' | jq
```

### Update spend limit
```bash
curl -s -X PATCH "https://api.privacy.com/v1/cards/{card_token}" \
  -H "Authorization: api-key $PRIVACY_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"spend_limit": 10000, "spend_limit_duration": "MONTHLY"}' | jq
```

---

## Common Decline Reasons

| Code | Meaning |
|------|---------|
| `CARD_PAUSED` | Card is paused |
| `CARD_CLOSED` | Card is closed |
| `SINGLE_USE_RECHARGED` | Single-use already used |
| `UNAUTHORIZED_MERCHANT` | Wrong merchant for locked card |
| `USER_TRANSACTION_LIMIT` | Spend limit exceeded |
| `INSUFFICIENT_FUNDS` | Funding source issue |

See [references/api.md](references/api.md) for complete field documentation.