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

# Overview

> Introduction to Mandates

A **mandate** is an authorisation granted by a customer that allows a merchant to initiate future payments on their behalf, without the customer being present in the flow.

**Consent** defines what the customer has agreed to: the amount, recurrence cadence, validity period, and maximum number of payments. For installment mandates, consent is structured around a total amount and a payment plan.

<div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-2 gap-6">
  <Card title="Consent" icon="file-signature" href="/documentation/collect/payment-sessions/mandates/consent">
    Define what the customer is agreeing to: amount, recurrence, validity period, and mandate type.
  </Card>

  {/* 
    <Card
    title="Controls"
    icon="sliders"
    href="/documentation/collect/payment-sessions/mandates/controls"
    >
    Govern how and when payments execute under a mandate without changing customer consent.
    </Card>
    */}

  <Card title="Supported Payment Methods" icon="credit-card" href="/documentation/collect/payment-sessions/mandates/supported-payment-methods">
    See which payment methods support mandate-based collections.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Examples" icon="code" href="/documentation/collect/payment-sessions/mandates/examples">
    Full mandate configuration examples for common recurring payment scenarios.
  </Card>
</div>