# pay_tab_open

Open a pre-funded metered tab with a provider. Use tabs for repeated API calls

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `pay_tab_open`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-tab-open

## Facts

- Tool: `pay_tab_open`
- Server: Pay Mcp (`@pay-skill/mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp.md
- Install: `npx -y @pay-skill/mcp`
- Homepage: https://github.com/pay-skill/pay-mcp
- Risk category: Financial (Critical risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Approval-gated

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "pay_tab_open",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why pay_tab_open is rated Critical

This tool opens a pre-funded payment tab, which commits financial resources and establishes an obligation for future charges. Even though the actual charge occurs via sibling tools like 'pay_tab_charge', opening the tab is the critical financial gate that enables those charges. An AI agent tricked into calling this could establish unauthorized payment accounts.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'pay_tab_open' combined with server description 'USDC payments for AI agents on Base' and sibling tools 'pay_tab_charge', 'pay_tab_close', 'pay_send' indicate this tool opens a financial account/tab that enables subsequent charges."

## Use case

AI agents use pay_tab_open to commit financial operations through Pay Mcp, usually the final step of a payment, billing, or trading workflow. A call moves real money.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Approval-gated**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Pay Mcp:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "pay_tab_open": {
      "deny_if": [
        {
          "conditions": [],
          "on_deny": "Requires human approval."
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Pay Mcp (14)

- `pay_webhook_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-webhook-delete.md
- `pay_fund` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-fund.md
- `pay_mint` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-mint.md
- `pay_request` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-request.md
- `pay_send` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-send.md
- `pay_tab_charge` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-tab-charge.md
- `pay_tab_close` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-tab-close.md
- `pay_tab_topup` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-tab-topup.md
- `pay_withdraw` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-withdraw.md
- `pay_discover` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-discover.md
- `pay_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-status.md
- `pay_tab_list` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-tab-list.md
- `pay_webhook_list` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-webhook-list.md
- `pay_webhook_register` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp/pay-webhook-register.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-pay-skill-pay-mcp