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

# Errands

> An errand is a long-running purchase task that runs under a Stamped Mandate.

export const waitlists = {
  earlyAccess: "https://sumvin.com/?interest=early_access&utm_source=docs&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=early_access#waitlist",
  payments: "https://sumvin.com/?interest=payments&utm_source=docs&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=payments#waitlist",
  openBanking: "https://sumvin.com/?interest=open_banking&utm_source=docs&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=open_banking#waitlist",
  developers: "https://sumvin.com/developers?interest=cli,agent_plugin&utm_source=docs&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=developers#access",
  verifiers: "https://sumvin.com/developers?interest=verifiers&utm_source=docs&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=verifiers#access"
};

<Note>
  **Private preview:** this is rolling out and may not be available on your account yet.{waitlists.earlyAccess ? <> <a href={waitlists.earlyAccess}>Request early access →</a></> : null}
</Note>

An errand is a long-running purchase task that runs under a Stamped Mandate. "Reorder my usual coffee beans" is an errand. So is "buy the cheapest direct flight under \$400 to Chicago next month".

You ask in your own words, and your agent asks you anything it needs to know. You sign the errand's bounds: the most it may spend, the currency, any conditions, and when the authorisation lapses. Then Sumvin searches, checks the merchant, watches for your conditions, and settles the purchase. Every purchase stays within the [Stamped Mandate](/concepts/stamped-mandates) you signed.

## What an errand guarantees

* **Starting an errand spends nothing and searches nothing.** Nothing happens until you sign. Creating an errand doesn't authorise any spending.
* **Your agent can't sign for you.** Signing is something you do yourself.
* **Once you sign, a match within your bounds is bought without asking you again.** You sign before the search, so there is no second look at the pick.
* **Every purchase stays inside the mandate.** An errand can't spend past the ceiling or the expiry of the mandate behind it.
* **You can stop it.** Decline it instead of signing, cancel it at any point before it finishes, or revoke the mandate behind it.

## Lifecycle

An errand moves through these states. Your agent reports them by name.

| Stage | State | Means |
| - | - | - |
| Working it out | `qualifying` | Your agent is reading your ask. |
| Waiting on you | `pending_clarification` | It has a question for you, before you sign. |
| | `pending_approval` | Waiting for your signature on the errand's bounds. Nothing has been searched yet. |
| Signed and under way | `approved` | You signed. The search is about to start. |
| | `searching` | Looking for options within what you signed. |
| | `validating` | Checking an option, and the merchant selling it, against what you signed. |
| | `monitoring` | Watching for your conditions to be met, such as a price. |
| | `executing` | Buying now. |
| Finished | `completed` | Settled. Done. |
| | `failed` | It couldn't be done. |
| | `expired` | Its time ran out, including when you don't sign in time. |
| | `cancelled` | Stopped: you cancelled or declined it, or its mandate was revoked. |

The four finished states are final. A finished errand never changes again.

You can answer questions only while an errand is `qualifying` or `pending_clarification`, before you sign. You can cancel it in any state that isn't finished. Declining at the signature step cancels it: nothing is signed, searched or spent. Revoking a mandate cancels every unfinished errand under it, even one that is mid-search.

## Repeat errands

Some things you want done more than once. Every errand already goes ahead without asking you again once you've signed it. A repeat errand goes one step further: one signature covers several matching errands, each within your mandate and the conditions you set. You choose this mode; your agent doesn't choose it for you.

## How errands pay

<Note>
  **Coming soon:** payments arrive in a fast-follow release.{waitlists.payments ? <> <a href={waitlists.payments}>Join the waitlist →</a></> : " A waitlist opens shortly."}
</Note>

Sumvin is a [Visa Intelligent Commerce Launch Partner](/concepts/partners), and errands are built on Visa Intelligent Commerce. Payments aren't part of this preview: they arrive in a fast-follow release, with its own waitlist. Signing an errand from the connector arrives with them.

Card purchases follow Visa's dispute processes. While payments are in preview, we handle each dispute ourselves, with care, especially if you think your agent got it wrong. Email [hello@sumvin.com](mailto:hello@sumvin.com). See [Trust and safety](/concepts/trust-and-safety).

<Tip>**Try asking your agent:** "Reorder my usual coffee beans."</Tip>

## Next

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Run your first errand" icon="play" href="/get-started/first/errand">
    Ask, sign, then search, check, watch and settle.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Repeat errands" icon="repeat" href="/guides/repeat-errands">
    Let a routine purchase go ahead within your limits.
  </Card>
</Columns>


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.