What Compelling Evidence 3.0 changes for merchants
Before CE 3.0, a buyer could claim "I did not make this purchase" and the merchant had little to answer with. Visa introduced Compelling Evidence 3.0 to deal with first party misuse, the case where the real cardholder made the purchase and then reported it as fraud.
The idea is simple. If the same card was used with you before, from the same device or the same IP address, and those earlier payments were never disputed, the new claim is very likely not true fraud. Visa's rules let you submit that history in a structured way, and if it meets the criteria the issuer cannot keep the dispute as fraud.
CE 3.0 applies to Visa reason code 10.4, Other Fraud, Card Absent Environment. It does not cover other Visa reason codes or other networks. Visa updates its rules, so check the current Visa Core Rules or ask your acquirer before you rely on any single detail.
The rules a transaction must meet
Visa's rules require all of the points below. NoChargeback checks each one for you, but it helps to know them.
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Two prior transactions. You need at least two earlier transactions on the same card number as the disputed one.
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Undisputed. Neither prior transaction may have a dispute or a fraud report against it.
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The right age. Each prior transaction must be between 120 and 365 days older than the dispute.
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Matching data. Each prior transaction must match the disputed one on at least two data elements.
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IP or device. At least one of the matching elements must be the IP address or the device ID or fingerprint.
| Data element | Counts toward the match | Can be the required IP or device element |
|---|---|---|
| IP address | Yes | Yes |
| Device ID or device fingerprint | Yes | Yes |
| Shipping address | Yes | No |
| User account ID | Yes | No |
A practical match looks like this: the disputed order and two orders from last year share the same user account ID and the same device fingerprint. That gives two matching elements, and one of them is a device element.
Why CE 3.0 is worth the effort
A fraud claim on a card absent sale is one of the hardest disputes to win with ordinary evidence. Delivery proof shows the package arrived, not who ordered it. CE 3.0 answers the real question: has this cardholder paid you from this device before, without a complaint.
Qualifying matters beyond one case. A 10.4 dispute that meets CE 3.0 shifts liability to the issuer, and under Visa's current programs qualifying disputes may be excluded from some fraud counts. Programs such as Visa VAMP change, and treatment varies by acquirer, so confirm how your ratio is measured. Our chargeback ratio monitor shows where you stand.
CE 3.0 is strongest for subscriptions, digital goods and stores with repeat buyers, where the same account logs in again and again. It is a key part of chargeback fraud prevention for these businesses.
What data you need to collect today
CE 3.0 only works if you saved the data at the time of each purchase. You cannot rebuild an IP address a year later. Start collecting these fields now, even if you have no disputes yet.
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Customer IP address at checkout, stored with the order
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A device ID or fingerprint from your checkout or app
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A stable user account ID for logged in buyers
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The shipping address as entered at checkout
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Order date and time, and the card fingerprint or last four digits your processor returns
Most of this is already in Stripe and Shopify order data. When your checkout does not pass the IP address or a device ID to the processor, NoChargeback shows which field is missing so your developer can add it.
How NoChargeback finds qualifying history
When a Visa 10.4 dispute arrives, NoChargeback searches your connected accounts for earlier payments on the same card. It filters out any with disputes or fraud reports, keeps those 120 to 365 days old, and compares the data elements. If at least two prior transactions match on two elements including IP or device, it fills the CE 3.0 fields and adds them to the evidence pack.
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Search across all connected processor accounts in your workspace
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Automatic age and dispute checks on each prior transaction
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Clear view of which elements match and which are missing
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Win chance shown before you submit
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Automatic submission 48 hours before the due date on Growth and up
Network data for CE 3.0, along with Ethoca, Verifi CDRN and Visa RDR alerts, is part of the Scale and Enterprise plans. Evidence packs for every other reason code are on every plan. See the plans on the pricing page and the full Visa reason code list.
When the dispute does not qualify
Many 10.4 disputes come from first time buyers, so no prior history exists. In that case NoChargeback builds the strongest standard pack it can: 3DS result, AVS and CVC checks, IP address and location match, delivery proof, and any login or usage after the purchase. A successful 3DS check on the original payment is often a stronger answer than CE 3.0, so it is worth reviewing your chargeback prevention rules for when to ask for 3DS.
What is Compelling Evidence 3.0?
Compelling Evidence 3.0 is a Visa dispute rule for reason code 10.4 card absent fraud. It lets a merchant show that the same card paid before from the same device or IP address without disputing, which shifts liability back to the issuer.
How old must the prior transactions be?
Visa's rules require each prior transaction to be 120 to 365 days older than the disputed one. Payments newer or older than that window do not count.
Which data elements count as a match?
IP address, device ID or fingerprint, shipping address and user account ID count. You need at least two matching elements, and one of them must be the IP address or the device ID.
Does CE 3.0 work for Mastercard disputes?
No. CE 3.0 is a Visa rule for reason code 10.4. Mastercard and other networks have their own rules for fraud disputes.
Which NoChargeback plan includes CE 3.0?
CE 3.0 network data is part of the Scale plan at 799 USD a month, or 399 USD a month billed yearly, and of Enterprise. Lower plans still build evidence packs for 10.4 disputes using standard evidence.