Visa completely restructured how they monitor merchant disputes and fraud with VAMP starting April 1, 2025. The old separate programs for disputes (VDMP) and fraud (VFMP) merged into one unified system. Every merchant needs a VAMP ratio calculator to track their TC40 TC15 compliance before enforcement begins.
The Consolidation of Visa Programs
Visa previously ran five different monitoring programs across various regions and risk types. VDMP tracked chargebacks while VFMP monitored fraud separately. European merchants had their own variations. Some businesses juggled multiple programs simultaneously, each with different rules and reporting requirements.
VAMP brought everything under one umbrella back in April 2025. Your fraud reports (TC40) and disputes (TC15) now combine into a single VAMP ratio. While this simplifies Visa dispute monitoring, the new thresholds create tighter restrictions for many merchants.
The consolidation includes dispute reason codes 11, 12, and 13 alongside fraud data. This broader scope means more transactions count against your ratio than before. However, disputes resolved through RDR, CDRN, or Compelling Evidence 3.0 don't count, which provides some relief for merchants maintaining TC40 TC15 compliance.
Understanding the Phased Threshold Rollout
VAMP thresholds roll out in three distinct phases for Visa dispute monitoring:
June 1, 2025: First threshold implementation begins
January 1, 2026: Above Standard threshold activates for acquirers at 30 basis points
April 1, 2026: Final merchant threshold adjustments take effect
The phased approach gives businesses time to adjust, but merchants need a VAMP ratio calculator now to prepare. Your acquirer might impose stricter limits before these dates to protect their own compliance status.
During the advisory period from April 1 through September 30, 2025, Visa identifies non-compliant merchants but doesn't assess fees. This six-month window lets you understand your TC40 TC15 compliance position without immediate financial penalties. Enforcement with fees officially starts October 1, 2025.
Acquirer vs. Merchant Thresholds
Acquirers face much stricter requirements than individual merchants under VAMP. By January 2026, acquirers must stay below 30 basis points for Above Standard status. That's just 0.3% of transactions, a massive drop from previous Visa dispute monitoring programs.
Merchants initially have more breathing room. The Excessive threshold sits at 100 basis points through March 2026, then drops to 75 basis points in April 2026. But here's the catch: your acquirer will likely enforce their own limits well below Visa's merchant thresholds for TC40 TC15 compliance.
Many acquirers already require merchants to maintain ratios under 50 basis points to keep their portfolio compliant. Some set limits at 30 or even 25 basis points. These internal requirements matter more than Visa's official merchant thresholds when using a VAMP ratio calculator for planning.
The Enumeration Attack Factor
VAMP introduces specific monitoring for enumeration attacks, also called card testing. Fraudsters use these small transactions to validate stolen card numbers before making larger purchases, affecting your overall TC40 TC15 compliance metrics.
The enumeration ratio tracks confirmed enumerated transactions against your total volume. Visa's new AI system, VAAI (Visa Account Attack Intelligence), identifies these attacks with claimed 85% fewer false positives than previous methods.
Merchants need 300,000 enumerated transactions before entering enumeration monitoring. While this threshold seems high, card testing can escalate quickly on vulnerable sites. E-commerce platforms and subscription services face particular risk from these automated attacks that impact Visa dispute monitoring scores.
Fee Structure and Grace Periods
VAMP offers a three-month grace period for first-time violations within any 12-month rolling period. After that, fees apply to every dispute affecting TC40 TC15 compliance:
Acquirers Above Standard: $4 per dispute
Acquirers Excessive: $8 per dispute
Merchants Excessive: $8 per dispute
These fees add up fast for high-volume merchants. Processing 50,000 monthly transactions with a 1% dispute rate means 500 disputes. At $8 each, that's $4,000 in VAMP fees alone, not counting your acquirer's additional penalties. A VAMP ratio calculator helps predict these costs before they hit.
The fee structure incentivizes quick action. Staying in Above Standard status as an acquirer costs less than hitting Excessive, but any non-compliance under Visa dispute monitoring gets expensive over time.
Conclusion
VAMP fundamentally changes Visa dispute monitoring by combining fraud and disputes into one strict program. The phased rollout through 2026 gives merchants time to adapt, but preparation using a VAMP ratio calculator needs to start now. Understanding your current TC40 TC15 compliance and implementing prevention strategies before October 2025 enforcement protects your business from fees and restrictions.
The consolidation affects every Visa merchant differently. High-risk industries face immediate pressure while established retailers might have more cushion. But with acquirers setting their own stricter limits, no merchant can ignore these changes to Visa dispute monitoring requirements.
Success under VAMP requires knowing exactly where you stand today. Without an accurate VAMP ratio calculator tracking your TC40 TC15 compliance, you're flying blind into stricter thresholds and higher fees.
FAQs: Visa Dispute Monitoring: What Changed with VAMP?
When does VAMP enforcement actually begin?
VAMP officially launched April 1, 2025, but enforcement with fees doesn't start until October 1, 2025. The six-month advisory period identifies non-compliant merchants without penalties, giving businesses time to improve their Visa dispute monitoring ratios.
How is the VAMP ratio different from the old VDMP calculation?
VAMP combines both TC40 fraud reports and TC15 disputes into one ratio for complete TC40 TC15 compliance tracking, while VDMP only tracked chargebacks. The calculation excludes disputes resolved through RDR, CDRN, and Compelling Evidence 3.0.
What are the actual VAMP thresholds for merchants?
Merchants face an Excessive threshold of 100 basis points through March 2026, dropping to 75 basis points in April 2026. Your acquirer likely enforces stricter limits around 30-50 basis points, making a VAMP ratio calculator essential for tracking.
Do small merchants need to worry about VAMP?
VAMP requires minimum 1,500 combined disputes monthly before enrollment. Smaller merchants below this volume won't enter the program, but should monitor their TC40 TC15 compliance since crossing that threshold triggers immediate requirements.
Which disputes count toward my VAMP ratio?
Your VAMP ratio includes all TC40 fraud reports and TC15 disputes with reason codes 11, 12, and 13. Only card-not-present VisaNet transactions count for Visa dispute monitoring, with pre-dispute solutions excluded from calculations.
Get Your Real VAMP Ratio Before Fees Hit
October's enforcement deadline approaches fast, and guessing your ratio risks thousands in monthly fees. Chargeblast provides the VAMP ratio calculator you need with automated TC40 TC15 compliance tracking, daily updates, and alerts before crossing dangerous thresholds. We calculate your true Visa dispute monitoring position using Visa's exact methodology. Book a call now for immediate access to your data and see if you're already at risk.
