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1. VMSS:Visa Merchant Screening Service

Simply put, VMSS is Visa's merchant blacklist database.

  • When terminating a merchant, the acquirer must notify the merchant that they may be added to VMSS. After terminating a merchant, the acquirer must list the merchant in VMSS within the specified timeframe; failure to do so will result in a Visa non-compliance assessment penalty.

  • When onboarding a merchant, the acquirer must query whether the merchant is in VMSS and simultaneously assess whether the merchant is eligible for onboarding.

VMSS (Visa Merchant Screening Service) is a database maintained by Visa that contains records of merchants and agents whose agreements with acquiring partners have been terminated for cause, categorized using specific listing reason codes.

  • The Visa Merchant Screening Service allows access to data including merchant financial statements, transaction volumes, chargeback history, and potential associations with high-risk activities.

  • Companies, especially acquirers and payment service providers, typically use the Visa Merchant Screening Service to assess risks associated with merchant applicants, monitor the ongoing performance and compliance of existing merchants, and mitigate fraud and financial risks within the Visa payment network.

  • Visa Merchant Screening Services provides risk assessment and monitoring services for merchants across multiple regions worldwide, ensuring the security and reliability of the Visa payment network on a global scale.

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