# Monitoring & Remediation
Source: https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/monitoring/thresholds

Last updated 24 October 2026.

TL;DR

-   **Know the published lines.** Visa's U.S. excessive test is 1.5% with 1,500 fraud reports and disputes, when the acquirer condition applies. Stripe describes dispute activity above 0.75% as excessive. Shopify can enroll at 1.5% over 90 days on its NDRP inclusive rate. PayPal charges its high volume fee at its own 1.5% dispute ratio with more than 100 sales in the prior three full calendar months. Each metric differs ([who publishes what](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#processors-published-lines))
-   **Watch the trend**, get your processor's own limit in writing, and respond to a warning today
-   **Mastercard**: both count AND ratio must be met (ECM is 100-299 chargebacks AND 1.50-2.99%; HECM is 300+ AND 3.00%+)
-   **Exit differs by program**: Mastercard ECP/EFM sources say three consecutive compliant months. VAMP sources disagree on one versus three; [get your applicable conditions in writing](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#vamp-exit-conditions)
-   **Termination risk**: use the conditions in your agreement and notice. A program month isn't a universal closure deadline
-   This page covers _how to monitor and respond_. For exact thresholds, fees, and timelines, see [Network Programs Reference](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/).

This page teaches you how to monitor your dispute ratios and what to do when they're trending in the wrong direction. For the complete threshold tables, fee schedules, and month-by-month escalation timelines, see [Network Programs Reference](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/).

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## What to Do as Your Ratio Rises

NOT PUBLISHED Universal healthy, danger or crisis bands. Use your processor's limit and the published program lines below.

| What you're seeing | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| Stable figures below your limit | Keep monitoring counts and ratios. Check the reporting period |
| A rising ratio or dispute count | Start [free prevention fixes](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/prevention/smb-prevention-priorities/). Find the cause before you reach the limit |
| Approaching your processor's own limit | Fix descriptor and support problems. Review 3DS and alerts against the dispute causes |
| A warning or breach notice | Confirm its metric and deadline. Use the [crisis playbook](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/zero-point-nine-panic/) and [reduce chargebacks fast](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/playbooks/reduce-chargebacks-fast/) |

Low-Volume Warning

At low transaction counts, a single bad month can spike your ratio. 5 chargebacks on 1,000 transactions = 0.5%. Read the counts beside the rate. A rolling average can help you see the trend, but it doesn't replace the reporting period your processor or network uses.

## Programs at a Glance

| Network | Program | Key Trigger | Details |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Visa | VAMP (replaced VDMP + VFMP, April 2025) | U.S.: at least 1.5% AND 1,500 combined fraud reports and disputes, when the acquirer isn't Above Standard or Excessive. CEMEA: at least 2.2%, 150 events AND USD 75,000, with the same acquirer condition | [Full regional scope](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#current-thresholds) |
| Mastercard | ECP (ECM/HECM tiers) | ECM: 100-299 chargebacks AND 1.50-2.99%. HECM: 300+ AND 3.00%+ | [Full thresholds](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#mastercard-ecm-mastercards-chargeback-monitoring-program) |
| Amex | Internal monitoring | No published number. Amex acts when your volume is "considered disproportionate" | [Details](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/reference/card-networks/amex/) |
| Discover | Internal monitoring | No published number. "Excessive returns or Disputes, as determined by us in our sole discretion" | [Details](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/reference/card-networks/discover/) |

For exit, use the [program-specific sourced conditions](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#vamp-exit-conditions). Three consecutive months is the reported Mastercard ECP/EFM rule, not a rule for every network program.

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## Calculating Your Rates

### Program Ratios

```text
Visa VAMP % = (TC40 Fraud Reports in Month N + TC15 Disputes in Month N) / Settled CNP VisaNet Transactions in Month N x 100
Mastercard ECP % = First Mastercard Chargebacks Received in Month N / Mastercard Sales Transactions in Month N-1 x 100
```

VAMP has extract-dependent exclusions. Use the [VAMP formula and exclusions](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#what-counts-in-vamp) and [Mastercard formula sources](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#ratio-calculation). A chargebacks-only same-month rate isn't either program's full calculation.

Want the room left under each line? [Work out your headroom](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#headroom-calculator) with both formulas and your processor's limit.

### Important Notes

-   **Transaction counts matter.** Low-volume merchants can hit ratio thresholds quickly.
-   **Both metrics.** Many programs require both ratio AND count thresholds.
-   **Month matters.** VAMP uses same-month fraud reports plus disputes over settled CNP VisaNet transactions. Mastercard ECP uses this month's first chargebacks over last month's Mastercard sales count.

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## Warning Signs

### Leading Indicators

Monitor these to catch problems early:

| Indicator | Warning Level | Action Level |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chargeback ratio | Rising toward your processor's limit | Approaching or breaching that limit; confirm the deadline |
| EFM fraud-chargeback count ratio | 0.35% (example internal alert) | Check all applicable EFM entry tests, including the Australia exception |
| Dispute trend | Unexplained rise on comparable sales | A rise that would cross your processor's written limit or a program threshold before your next review |
| Customer complaints | Increasing | Spiking |

EFM isn't triggered by one fraud percentage. Its count ratio, fraud-chargeback amount, prior-month sales count and 3DS usage tests apply together. [Network Programs](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#efm-enrollment-criteria) gives the sourced figures, Australia's different lines and provider equality differences. The 0.35% warning level is an example internal setting, not a network line or a promise of a month to react. Set your chargeback alerts against your processor's limit. [Published provider lines](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#processors-published-lines) differ; they don't establish one cutoff for everyone.

Don't borrow another merchant's alert levels. Check which program applies, how it counts fraud and disputes, and what your processor requires.

### Red Flags

-   Chargeback ratio approaching your processor's limit
-   Fraud-chargeback count ratio approaching the applicable EFM line; [check its other tests and regional conditions](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#efm-enrollment-criteria)
-   Month-over-month increases
-   New fraud patterns emerging
-   Customer service complaints spiking

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## Remediation Requirements

Use the deadline in your notice. Braintree's September 2025 VAMP update says 15 days from notification. Nuvei asks its merchants for findings and a plan within ten calendar days. Those aren't a shared deadline for every program. [Sources and scope](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#timeline-and-remediation). Ask: "What must I send, who gets it, and by which date?"

### What Networks Want to See

1.  **Root cause analysis** - Why are chargebacks occurring?
2.  **Remediation plan** - Specific actions with timelines
3.  **Progress reporting** - Regular updates
4.  **Evidence of improvement** - Declining metrics
5.  **Compliance commitment** - Ongoing monitoring

### Typical Remediation Actions

| Area | Actions |
| --- | --- |
| **Fraud Prevention** | 3DS implementation, enhanced scoring, velocity rules |
| **Customer Experience** | Clear descriptors, easy cancellation, better support |
| **Operations** | Faster refunds, delivery confirmation, dispute response |
| **Policies** | Clear terms, visible disclosures, proper consent |

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## Prevention Strategies

### Immediate Actions

1.  **Enable fraud tools** - 3DS, AVS, CVV
2.  **Review refund policies** - Make refunds easier
3.  **Improve response time** - Customer service SLAs
4.  **Implement alerts** - Ethoca, Verifi for pre-disputes

### Long-term Solutions

1.  **Improve descriptors** - Clear merchant names
2.  **Order confirmations** - Email with charge preview
3.  **Delivery confirmation** - Tracking and signature
4.  **Review sales practices** - No aggressive tactics
5.  **Train customer service** - Dispute prevention focus

### Alert Services

| Service | Function |
| --- | --- |
| Verifi CDRN | Pre-dispute alerts for Visa |
| Ethoca | Pre-dispute alerts for Mastercard |
| RDR (Rapid Dispute Resolution) | Auto-resolve disputes |

For how alerts affect program ratios, see [Prevention Tool Impact](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/#prevention-tool-impact).

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## Next Steps

**Checking your program status?**

1.  [Review threshold tables](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/) - Know exactly where the lines are
2.  [Watch warning signs](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/monitoring/thresholds/#warning-signs) - Act before breach
3.  [Calculate your program ratios](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/monitoring/thresholds/#calculating-your-rates) - Check the numerator and reporting months

**Already in a program?**

1.  [Follow remediation requirements](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/monitoring/thresholds/#remediation-requirements) - What networks want
2.  [Implement prevention strategies](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/monitoring/thresholds/#prevention-strategies) - Get below thresholds
3.  [Review fee escalation timelines](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/) - Understand urgency

**Preventing program entry?**

1.  [Monitor leading indicators](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/monitoring/thresholds/#leading-indicators) - Early warning metrics
2.  [Enable alert services](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/monitoring/thresholds/#alert-services) - Ethoca, Verifi
3.  [Review prevention strategies](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/monitoring/thresholds/#long-term-solutions) - Reduce disputes proactively

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## See Also

-   [Network Programs Reference](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/reference/network-programs/) - Complete thresholds, fees, and timelines
-   [Dispute Monitoring Programs](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/compliance/network-rules/dispute-monitoring/) - Compliance perspective
-   [Chargeback Ratio Crisis](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/zero-point-nine-panic/) - Emergency actions
-   [Reduce Chargebacks Playbook](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/playbooks/reduce-chargebacks-fast/) - Crisis response
-   [Chargeback Metrics](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/metrics/) - Tracking your ratios
-   [Chargeback Prevention](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/prevention/) - Prevention strategies
-   [Chargeback Alerts](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/chargebacks/prevention/alerts/) - RDR, Ethoca, CDRN
-   [Processor Management](https://paymentsandrisk.com/docs/operations/processor-management/) - Working with processors