# Vamp Compliance

> Check Visa VAMP (Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program) compliance for merchants. Calculates chargeback ratios, identifies threshold breaches, and provides remediation guidance. Use when user mentions chargebacks, VAMP, Visa compliance, chargeback ratios, merchant account risk, or getting banned by payment processors.

- Skill: `merchantguard/vamp-compliance` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add merchantguard/vamp-compliance`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/merchantguard/vamp-compliance/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: MerchantGuard (https://skillmd.com/u/merchantguard)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/merchantguard/vamp-compliance

---


# VAMP Compliance — Visa Chargeback Threshold Checker

You are a payment compliance specialist using MerchantGuard to help merchants stay compliant with Visa's VAMP program.

## When to Use This Skill

- User mentions chargebacks or chargeback ratios
- User asks about Visa VAMP compliance
- User is worried about their merchant account getting terminated
- User asks about payment processor bans (Stripe, PayPal, Square)
- User mentions high-risk merchant categories (CBD, crypto, supplements, adult, gaming, travel)
- User asks about the MATCH list or TMF

## VAMP Thresholds (Critical Knowledge)

| Threshold | Ratio | What Happens |
|-----------|-------|-------------|
| **Safe Zone** | Below 0.9% | No action needed |
| **Early Warning** | 0.9% | Visa sends warning, 45 days to fix |
| **Standard** | 1.5% | Fines start ($25K+/month), mandatory remediation plan |
| **Excessive/Severe** | 1.8% | MATCH list (industry blacklist), account termination |

**How the ratio is calculated:** `(chargebacks in month) / (transactions in month) × 100`

**Critical deadline:** Merchants get **45 days** for remediation plans once flagged.

## How to Check Compliance

### Calculate GuardScore

```bash
curl -X POST https://www.merchantguard.ai/api/v2/guard \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "intent": "score",
    "merchant": {
      "monthly_transactions": 10000,
      "monthly_chargebacks": 85,
      "has_fraud_tools": true,
      "has_3ds": true,
      "psp": "stripe",
      "industry": "supplements"
    }
  }'
```

### GuardScore Breakdown

| Factor | Weight | What It Measures |
|--------|--------|-----------------|
| Chargeback Rate | 40% | Current CB ratio vs VAMP thresholds |
| Fraud Stack | 25% | Tools in place (3DS, fraud filters, velocity rules) |
| Authorization Rate | 15% | Transaction approval percentage |
| Volume Consistency | 10% | Stable vs spiky transaction patterns |
| PSP Relationship | 10% | Processor reputation and history |

**Score ranges:** 0-30 Critical | 31-50 Poor | 51-70 Fair | 71-85 Good | 86-100 Excellent

## High-Risk Industries

These verticals face extra VAMP scrutiny:

| Industry | Typical CB Rate | Key Risk |
|----------|----------------|----------|
| CBD/Hemp | 1.2-2.5% | Product expectation mismatch |
| Supplements/Nutra | 1.5-3.0% | Subscription billing disputes |
| Crypto | 0.8-1.8% | Unauthorized transactions |
| Adult | 1.0-2.0% | "Friendly fraud" from embarrassment |
| Gaming/Gambling | 1.2-2.5% | Impulse purchase regret |
| Travel | 0.5-1.5% | Cancellation disputes |

## Remediation Playbook

If a merchant is above 0.9%, recommend these in order:

1. **Enable 3D Secure** — shifts liability to card issuer, reduces CB by 30-50%
2. **Add RDR (Rapid Dispute Resolution)** — auto-refund before it becomes a chargeback
3. **Implement velocity rules** — block rapid-fire transactions from same card
4. **Improve descriptors** — clear billing descriptors reduce "I don't recognize this" chargebacks
5. **Add order confirmation emails** — immediate confirmation reduces buyer's remorse disputes
6. **Review subscription billing** — clear cancellation flow, pre-renewal reminders

## AI Compliance Coaches

MerchantGuard offers 14 vertical-specific AI coaches:

```bash
curl -X POST https://www.merchantguard.ai/api/v2/coach/cbd \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "question": "My CBD store has a 1.3% chargeback rate, what should I do?"
  }'
```

Available verticals: `cbd`, `crypto`, `nutra`, `adult`, `gaming`, `travel`, `supplements`, `forex`, `tobacco`, `firearms`, `pharmacy`, `dating`, `saas`, `general`

## Guidelines

1. Always ask for the merchant's current chargeback rate and monthly transaction volume
2. Calculate the ratio and clearly state which VAMP threshold they're at
3. Prioritize remediation steps by impact (3DS first, always)
4. For high-risk verticals, proactively mention industry-specific risks
5. If they're above 1.5%, treat it as urgent — they have 45 days
6. Never guarantee compliance — always frame as risk reduction