Merchant VAMP Threshold Calculator

The Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP) monitors fraud, disputes and enumeration across acquiring banks and their merchants. The fraud-and-dispute ratio covers VisaNet card-not-present transactions, including domestic and cross-border activity.

Visa’s revised requirements took effect June 1, 2025. The advisory period ended September 30, 2025. The merchant ratio limit subsequently fell from 2.2% to 1.5% in the US, Canada, EU and Asia Pacific on April 1, 2026.

A merchant’s ratio and an acquirer’s portfolio ratio answer different questions. Check both the Visa criteria that apply to your region and the conditions in your processing agreement.

A dashboard chargeback rate may measure a different set of events or use a different reporting date. There is no universal percentage difference between that rate and VAMP.

For example, Stripe displays count-based dispute activity and dispute-rate metrics with different date attribution. VAMP additionally includes TC40 fraud reports. Compare definitions and reporting periods before comparing the percentages.

Use TC40 fraud reports and TC15 disputes received in the data month, eligible exclusions confirmed in the extract, and Visa CNP sales settled in that same month. Reports can relate to older purchases. To review a 90-day trend, calculate each month separately rather than using one pooled ratio.

Merchant identification requires the ratio and monthly event-count criteria to be met together, plus the amount criterion in CEMEA. The count is fraud reports plus disputes after eligible exclusions; it is not the number of sales.

The calculator checks merchant thresholds separately from possible acquirer-level fee scenarios. Meeting a threshold does not establish an immediate invoice: identification history, any applicable grace period and the processor’s assessment affect actual charges.

A result below the merchant threshold is not a guarantee of zero fees or continued processing.

Braintree’s April 2026 guidance lists $4 per counted event for Acquirer Above Standard and $8 for Acquirer Excessive. When the acquirer is identified, merchant fees can apply from a 0.5% merchant ratio. Its published guidance exempts merchants with fewer than five counted events.

The separate Merchant Excessive scenario uses $8 per counted event when the applicable merchant criteria are met and the acquirer is below Above Standard. These scenarios are alternatives, not fees to add together.

Actual pass-through charges and risk controls depend on your processor and agreement. Ask for written confirmation rather than interpreting an estimated $0 as a promise.

Ask your acquirer these three questions:

• Which Visa region, descriptor grouping and monthly data extract determine my VAMP identification?
• Is the acquirer’s portfolio identified as Above Standard or Excessive, and which charges are passed through to my account?
• Which exclusions, first-identification grace period and contractual risk limits apply to my merchant account?

Keep the answers alongside your monthly monitoring report and mitigation plan.

If a dashboard and processor report disagree, reconcile the underlying Visa counts, exclusions and reporting dates before changing your forecast.

One payment can contribute both a fraud report and a dispute. Count the events Visa reports rather than deduplicating them into one affected order.

TC40 Fraud Reports are issuer-reported fraud events. A TC40 can count without a subsequent chargeback. If a payment appears in both TC40 and TC15 reporting, both events count unless an eligible exclusion applies.

TC15 Disputes include fraud and non-fraud disputes. Do not limit the input to non-fraud reason codes or subtract ordinary representment wins.

Exclusions include eligible disputes resolved through pre-dispute solutions and TC40 fraud qualified for CE 3.0, subject to data-extract timing. A pre-dispute refund does not automatically remove an associated TC40. Enter exclusions only if they are still included in your gross inputs.

Settled CNP Transactions are VisaNet CNP sales settled in the same data month. Exclude card-present sales and sales on other card networks.

The calculator’s event headroom assumes settled sales stay fixed and checks both merchant ratio and count limits. It is not headroom against every possible acquirer fee or contractual risk limit. CEMEA also requires the amount criterion.

There is no universal 24–72-hour window before every Visa dispute. Follow the deadline and workflow for the specific alert or resolution product, and reconcile the outcome with your processor.

Chargeflow Alerts connects merchants to pre-dispute services including Verifi RDR/CDRN and Ethoca Alerts. Coverage and resolution behavior depend on the network, service and transaction.

Use configured rules to resolve eligible cases promptly. Preventing a chargeback can help reduce dispute activity, but it does not guarantee that a related TC40 disappears or that the account remains below every applicable limit.

Track alert outcomes, recognized exclusions and monthly Visa counts in your mitigation plan. Use the report to discuss remaining exposure with your acquirer.

Review supported platforms, alert coverage and activation requirements with Chargeflow before estimating the impact.