How to set a default category for an unrecognized payee?

DavidB

I've noticed that when Simplifi encounters an unrecognized payee (ie, one that it's never seen before) it sets the category to…well, it seems like it picks the category randomly. I would like to create a payee named "Unknown" and if Simplifi cannot identify the payee, set it to that default. I don't see anything like that in the new rule page. Am I missing something?

Here's an example. The payee is "Stow Your Bags" which is a baggage storage service at a train station and it set the Category to "Interstate Waste" which is our trash hauler! I have no idea why Simplify set the Category to Interstate Waste.

I searched the Payees and Rules for "interstate" but this is all that came up, so I'm confused.

Coach Jon

Hello @DavidB,

Thanks for reaching out! When you download transactions from your bank, Quicken Simplifi will automatically assign a Category based on a combination of crowdsourcing, nearby payees, and simple logic. Our support article here goes into more detail on how Quicken Simplifi assigns categories and how to manage them: https://help.simplifimoney.com/en/articles/4378958-managing-categories-and-subcategories

Additionally, we also have a support article that explains transaction rules and how to use them to the best of your ability within Quicken Simplifi: https://help.simplifimoney.com/en/articles/4792733-how-to-use-transaction-rules

Hopefully, this information helps!

-Coach Jon

UrsulaA

@DavidB - There is a feature request open that will address your concern if implemented. Check it out. I will like to have this option too.

Stop automatic category assignment/leave category blank for downloaded transactions (edited) — Simplifi (simplifimoney.com)

DavidB

@Coach Jon: thanks for that info. It does not seem like this is an option. Maybe I will open it as a feature request

@UrsulaA: thanks for the thought but that actually is now what I want. I don't wan to turn off categorizations completely, only for when the payee is new. That said, I did take a suggestion by one of the people who commented and set a rule so all my Amazon transactions are set to category "Uncategorized" since every Amazon transaction needs to be looked up to see what it was for before I can categorize it.

David