> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://agents.laso.finance/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Check merchant compatibility before ordering a card

> Search the Laso Finance merchant database to confirm a retailer accepts USA or international prepaid cards before your agent places an order.

## Why check first?

Laso Finance prepaid cards work at most merchants, but not all. Before your agent orders a card and attempts a purchase, it can query Laso's merchant database to see if the card is known to work at a given merchant for the selected card type.

This is free and only requires a Bearer token from `/auth` or `/get-card`.

## How it works

Call `GET /search-merchants?q=MERCHANT_NAME` with your Bearer token. By default this searches the USA prepaid card (`/get-card`) acceptance database. Pass `card_type=Non-Reloadable International` to search for the international prepaid card (`/order-intl-card`) instead:

```bash theme={null}
# USA prepaid card acceptance (default)
curl "https://laso.finance/search-merchants?q=amazon" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ID_TOKEN"

# International prepaid card acceptance
curl "https://laso.finance/search-merchants?q=amazon&card_type=Non-Reloadable%20International" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ID_TOKEN"
```

The response includes a list of matching merchants with a `status` field:

| Status         | Meaning                                                                                  |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `accepted`     | The card has been successfully used at this merchant. Safe to proceed.                   |
| `not_accepted` | The card was declined at this merchant. Do not order a card for this merchant.           |
| `unknown`      | A transaction was attempted but the outcome is unclear. The card likely will still work. |

If a merchant isn't listed at all, it means no one has tried it yet — the card likely will still work there.

## Example response

```json theme={null}
{
  "merchants": [
    {
      "name": "Amazon",
      "url": "amazon.com",
      "status": "accepted",
      "description": "Online retail"
    }
  ],
  "query": "amazon",
  "count": 1,
  "card_type": "Non-Reloadable U.S.",
  "note": "This database only contains merchants where Laso users have previously attempted a transaction."
}
```

## When to use this

* **Before ordering a card** — Check the merchant first to avoid wasting funds on a card that will be declined.
* **When a purchase fails** — Search for the merchant to see if it's known to be `not_accepted`.
* **To build confidence** — If the merchant is listed as `accepted`, your agent can proceed without hesitation.

<Tip>
  This endpoint is free. There's no reason not to check before every purchase.
</Tip>