Also called: Dispute Remediation Plan, VDMP, VFMP, Visa Dispute Monitoring Program, Visa Fraud Monitoring Program
What VAMP is
The Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP) is Visa's monitoring system for fraud, disputes, and card-testing activity. It took effect April 1, 2025, replacing the Visa Dispute Monitoring Program (VDMP) and Visa Fraud Monitoring Program (VFMP). Visa reviews activity monthly, using the prior month's data.
For merchants in the US, Visa's excessive threshold as of April 1, 2026 is a VAMP ratio of at least 1.5% and at least 1,500 combined fraud reports and disputes in a month. The ratio divides TC40 fraud reports plus TC15 disputes by settled card-not-present transactions. A transaction appearing in both reports counts twice. VAMP also monitors enumeration, which includes card-testing attempts.
VAMP is a card-acceptance risk, not a negotiable processing rate.
How VAMP monitoring works
Visa evaluates fraud and disputes using the monthly ratio and report count. It evaluates enumeration separately. A high rate of disputes or fraud can put an account under monitoring even when card testing is not the issue. Visa identifies accounts using the static part of your statement descriptor and your acquiring bank, so multiple descriptors or acquiring-bank and country combinations can mean separate monitored accounts.
VAMP brings consequences beyond a warning. Visa may assess fees when an account crosses a threshold, but the sources reviewed do not establish a standard merchant fee amount. If a business fails to meet program requirements within the specified timeline, Visa can refuse further payments. That puts your ability to accept Visa cards at risk.
Illustrative US VAMP ratio
| Combined TC40 and TC15 reports | 1,500 |
|---|---|
| Settled card-not-present transactions | 100,000 |
| VAMP ratio | 1.5% |
Illustrative calculation. As of 2026, the US excessive threshold requires at least 1,500 combined reports and a ratio of at least 1.5%.
What it means for your costs and acceptance
VAMP is not a standard processing-rate line or a fee you can negotiate like processor markup. Its financial impact comes from possible monitoring fees or fines, the staff time needed to investigate activity, and the risk of losing card acceptance. Your processor's notice or portal is a better place to look for VAMP status than a specific statement line, because no standard VAMP statement descriptor is established.
Some older glossary material calls VAMP a “Dispute Remediation Plan.” That is not Visa's formal program name. A remediation plan is a set of steps a business takes to reduce disputes or fraud after problems arise.
What to track
Compare the TC15 dispute reports and TC40 fraud reports with your settled card-not-present transaction count for each month. Visa's final data arrives with a one-month delay, so a current dashboard estimate is not the same as the final program calculation. Record the reporting month, denominator, and any excluded cases when you review the ratio.
A spike in disputes, unauthorized transactions, or card-testing attempts can push the ratio upward. The threshold is based on both the ratio and the report count, so track each number rather than relying on the percentage alone.
What you can actually change
- Track both thresholds. Review the monthly TC40 count, TC15 count, and settled card-not-present volume together. As of 2026, the US excessive threshold requires both at least 1,500 combined reports and a 1.5% ratio.
- Find the source. Separate fraud reports, disputes, and card-testing attempts in your review. Check the statement descriptor and acquiring-bank details tied to each monitored account.
- Cut repeat problems. Investigate recurring disputes and fraud patterns, then correct the checkout, fulfillment, or billing issue behind them. For card testing, review the authorization attempts reaching your processor, including declines.
- Verify every charge. If a notice mentions VAMP fees, compare the amount and period with your processor's notice and account records. Do not assume a generic statement line is a VAMP fee.
Frequently asked questions
What is the US VAMP threshold in 2026?
As of April 1, 2026, the US excessive threshold is a VAMP ratio of at least 1.5% and at least 1,500 combined TC40 fraud reports and TC15 disputes in a month. The ratio uses settled card-not-present transactions as its denominator.
Did VAMP replace VDMP and VFMP?
Yes. VAMP took effect April 1, 2025, consolidating and replacing Visa's Dispute Monitoring Program and Fraud Monitoring Program. “Dispute Remediation Plan” is not Visa's formal name for VAMP.
Does VAMP charge merchants a standard fee?
Visa may assess fees when an account crosses a monitoring threshold, but the research reviewed does not establish a standard VAMP fee amount. Look for a written notice identifying the monitoring period and charge rather than assuming a particular statement line is VAMP-related.
Can VAMP affect my ability to accept Visa?
Yes. If your business fails to meet VAMP requirements within the specified timeline, Visa can refuse further payments. Track the monthly report count and ratio, and address dispute, fraud, or card-testing patterns before they threaten acceptance.