Mark April 1st, 2025 on your calendar. The roll-out date for the new Visa Acquirer’s Monitoring Program (VAMP) is fast approaching. Both merchants and acquirers need to make sure they’re prepared. Not familiar with the new VAMP? Heard of it but not sure what it means for your company? We’ll touch on the key points below, but feel free to reach out to the ChargebackHelp team if you need more assistance. We stay up to date on the latest developments that could impact our clients.
Out With the Old VDMP/VFMP and in With the New VAMP
Up until March 31st, 2025, Visa used two separate programs to monitor separately for disputes and fraud: the Visa Dispute Monitoring Program (VDMP) and the Visa Fraud Monitoring Program (VFMP). These programs were designed to reduce both disputes and fraud and were effective in achieving their goals. However, the two separate programs proved difficult for merchants and acquirers to monitor and manage.
To streamline things, Visa has combined various aspects of the two programs under the Visa Acquirer’s Monitoring Program. While the name focuses on acquirers, merchants need to pay close attention to developments as well because the new program will directly and indirectly impact them.
Ultimately, the VAMP should prove easier for stakeholders to monitor and manage. However, the program will also feature thresholds that will likely prove less generous and forgiving in the long run, especially for acquirers.
How the Changes Will Impact Merchants and Other Stakeholders
Previously, merchants had to monitor a dispute ratio under VDMP and a separate fraud ratio under VFMP. Going forward, a new VAMP ratio will be used to monitor both fraud and non-fraud disputes, including processing errors and authorization issues. More specifically, chargebacks come with reason codes and the new VAMP ratio will monitor both TC40 and TC15 notices per the formula below:
(Total TC40 Notices + Total TC15 Notices) / Total Settled Transactions
Crucially, if a dispute is resolved with Visa Verifi’s Rapid Dispute Resolution (RDR) or Cardholder Dispute Resolution Network (CDRN), the disputes might not be counted toward the VAMP ratio. If you’re not using these solutions, it’s probably time to sign up. Get in touch with our team if you need help setting up and managing Verifi’s merchant dispute solutions.
Separately, but still under VAMP, enumeration attacks will be monitored with the so-called VAMP Enumeration Ratio. The enumeration attacks monitored include brute force card testing attacks and if a merchant is hit with 300,000 or more enumeration attacks and their enumeration transaction ratio hits 20%, they could be penalized.
Visa Will Roll Out VAMP and the New Thresholds in Stages
Visa understands that the VAMP presents major changes for merchants and acquirers. From April 1st, 2025 to September 30, 2025, Visa will institute an “advisory” period. Merchants and acquirers typically won’t be penalized for exceeding thresholds but they will need to get on the right side of the thresholds quickly.
In 2025, acquirers will want to keep their VAMP ratio below .5% or they could be deemed as “Excessive.” Starting on January 1st, 2026, merchants also need to stay below just .3% or they’ll be deemed as “Above Standard.”
In 2025, merchants should aim to keep their VAMP ratio below 1.5% or they will be designated as “Excessive.” This threshold drops to just .9% in 2026. Merchants and acquirers who exceed these thresholds can be penalized.
Visa Acquirer’s Monitoring Program (VAMP) – Timeline and Thresholds
Important Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 31, 2025 | Last day of old Visa Dispute Monitoring Program (VDMP) and Visa Fraud Monitoring Program (VFMP) |
| April 1, 2025 | VAMP official roll-out date |
| April 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025 | VAMP “advisory period” (typically no penalties for exceeding thresholds) |
| January 1, 2026 | New stricter thresholds take effect |
VAMP Thresholds – 2025
| Stakeholder | Threshold | Designation if Exceeded |
|---|---|---|
| Acquirers | 0.5% | “Excessive” |
| Merchants | 1.5% | “Excessive” |
VAMP Thresholds – 2026
| Stakeholder | Threshold | Designation if Exceeded |
|---|---|---|
| Acquirers | 0.3% | “Above Standard” |
| Merchants | 0.9% | “Excessive” |
Enumeration Attack Monitoring
| Metric | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Enumeration attacks | 300,000+ |
| Enumeration transaction ratio | 20%+ |
Program Comparison
| Feature | Old Programs | New VAMP |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Two separate programs (VDMP and VFMP) | Single combined program |
| Monitoring | Separate dispute ratio and fraud ratio | Single VAMP ratio for both fraud and non-fraud disputes |
| Scope | Limited to specific dispute types | Includes processing errors and authorization issues |
| Exemptions | N/A | Disputes resolved with Visa Verifi’s RDR or CDRN might not count toward VAMP ratio |
Revamping Your Approach to Chargebacks as VAMP Rolls Out
It’s vital for merchants and acquirers to closely consider how the new VAMP program could impact their financials and business operations. Some merchants may enjoy the streamlined approach, but keep in mind that thresholds for acquirers and merchants will be lower under the new program.
It’s wise to build a diverse toolkit for dealing with chargebacks and disputes. Preventing disputes, chargebacks, and fraud will help merchants and acquirers stay on the right side of thresholds. Of course, fighting fraud and chargebacks can benefit a merchant’s bottom line in other ways as well.
It’s smart to use Visa’s own fraud tools. Some disputes deflected by Visa Verifi’s Rapid Dispute Resolution (RDR) and Cardholder Dispute Resolution Network (CDRN) won’t count toward the VAMP ratio, for example. ChargebackHelp also offers a variety of tools you can use to prevent disputes, and we make it easy to integrate Verifi’s tools as well.