MerchantGuard™VAMP Calculator — Check Your Risk & Get a Free Plan in Telegram
What is VAMP (Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program)?
VAMP tracks how many chargebacks merchants get compared to their total sales. Fraud chargebacks count DOUBLE because Visa wants to punish fraud more than service issues. The formula: (fraud disputes × 2 + service disputes) ÷ total transactions. If you exceed 0.9%, PSPs freeze accounts. Over 1.5%, you get terminated.
Last updated: October 2025 • Take the FREE VAMP Course →
VAMP in Plain English
The Simple Formula
You have 1,000 sales. You get 3 fraud chargebacks ("card stolen") and 2 service chargebacks ("wrong item").
Why Fraud Counts ×2
Visa wants to punish merchants who allow fraud more than those with service issues like late delivery.
- Fraud: "Card stolen" = 2× weight
- Service: "Item damaged" = 1× weight
- Same # of disputes, but fraud hurts you TWICE as much!
The 3 Thresholds
PSPs enforce 0.9% way before Visa's official 1.5% limit
Still confused? Take our FREE 30-minute course where Guard AI explains VAMP with YOUR actual business numbers.
Take the FREE VAMP Course →What VAMP Penalties Mean for Your Business
October 2025 Enforcement Timeline:
- October 1, 2025: VAMP fines begin at $8 per dispute
- Q4 2025: Acquirer portfolios face reserve requirements
- 2026: Full enforcement with account terminations
- Ongoing: Rolling reserves for repeated violations
Direct Business Impact:
- $10,000+/month in additional fines for high-volume merchants
- 15-30% rolling reserves locked for months
- Account termination with 5-year MATCH listing
- PSP relationship damage affecting future approvals
Don't Wait Until October - Get Professional Help Now
How to Calculate Your VAMP Ratio
Step-by-Step Process:
- Gather your monthly transaction data
- Count total disputes received
- Add fraud alerts (TC40/SAFE reports)
- Divide by total settled transactions
- Compare against VAMP thresholds
- Get personalized fixes via Telegram
Risk Bands Explained:
| Range | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|
| < 0.65% | Safe | Maintain |
| 0.65-1.0% | Warning | Optimize |
| >1.0% | Critical | Emergency |
Pro Tip: Get Your Personalized Action Plan
Our GuardScore™ Telegram bot analyzes your specific situation and provides ranked fixes based on your industry, volume, and risk profile.
What Your Result Means
Safe Range (Under 0.65%)
Your dispute ratio is healthy. Focus on maintaining current practices and building headroom for seasonal spikes or promotional campaigns.
Warning (0.65-1.0%)
Approaching VAMP thresholds. Implement dispute prevention strategies immediately to avoid crossing into penalty territory.
Critical (Over 1.0%)
In or approaching VAMP monitoring. Expect fines, rolling reserves, and potential account termination. Emergency action required.
Get Your Complete GuardScore™ Assessment
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this calculator really free and anonymous?
Yes. The calculator requires no sign-up or email. GuardScore™ in Telegram uses your inputs to generate a plan without requiring personal information for initial triage.
What data is passed via the Telegram button?
A compact, signed payload with your calculator context so the bot can personalize recommendations instantly. No personal information is transmitted.
Can I use the web instead of Telegram?
Yes — but Telegram offers the fastest 60-second triage with no email signup. The bot provides personalized guidance that adapts to your responses.
Do you guarantee outcomes or approvals?
No. We provide evidence-based recommendations citing network rules. Final decisions depend on your acquirer or platform's internal policies.
How accurate are the PSP provider recommendations?
Based on comprehensive research of 55+ industry sources and real underwriting criteria. Terms and approval rates vary; recommendations are educational guidance only.