Visa tightened its chargeback rules. Here is what to do.
Under Visa's acquirer monitoring program (VAMP), fraud reports and non-fraud disputes now count toward one combined ratio — and the thresholds have been tightening since 2025. Merchants who ignored their dispute rate for years are suddenly close to the line. Well prepared, it is a non-event. Unprepared, it can cost you your merchant account.
One ratio, less room, real consequences
Fraud + disputes combined
Fraud reports (TC40) and non-fraud chargebacks now count together for card-not-present transactions. Merchants who only watched their chargeback rate were watching half the picture.
Thresholds tightening in steps
Enforcement started in 2025 and the acceptable ratio has been stepping down since. What was fine two years ago can put you in remediation today.
Acquirers pass it down
Visa monitors acquirers; acquirers protect themselves. Expect remediation demands, passed-down fines, reserves — or offboarding — well before Visa itself knocks.
Are you ready?
- Do you know your current combined fraud + dispute ratio — not just your chargeback rate?
- Do you receive and act on fraud alerts (Ethoca, Verifi RDR) before they become disputes?
- Are your billing descriptors instantly recognizable to your customers?
- Is 3-D Secure applied where it lowers fraud without killing conversion?
- Do you have a structured representment process, or ad-hoc replies?
Two or more questions unanswered? Then the health check is worth it. We calculate your ratio the way Visa does, benchmark it against the current thresholds and deliver a prioritized plan to bring it down.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is VAMP?
The Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program — the program through which Visa monitors acquirers and their merchants on fraud and disputes. It replaced the previous separate fraud and dispute programs and combines fraud reports and non-fraud disputes into one ratio for card-not-present transactions. Acquirers pass the pressure (and the fines) straight down to merchants.
What ratio is safe?
The thresholds have been tightening in steps since 2025 and differ for acquirers and merchants; sub-1% territory is where you want to be, with real headroom. The exact current thresholds and enforcement dates are published by Visa and change — we check your numbers against the current values in the health check, not against last year's blog posts.
What happens if I cross the line?
Your acquirer is required to put you in a remediation program: action plans, deadlines, possible per-dispute fines passed down, rolling reserves — and for merchants who do not improve, termination and a match-list entry that makes getting a new merchant account very hard. Acting before you cross the line is dramatically cheaper.
VAMP health check: from $650, fixed price
We calculate your combined ratio, benchmark it against the current Visa thresholds and deliver a prioritized action plan — descriptors, alerts, filters, representment. Done properly once, before your acquirer makes it urgent.