Network
VisaCode
10.2Response window
30 calendar daysWin difficulty
HardDispute type
FraudVisa 10.2 — EMV Liability Shift (Non-Counterfeit Fraud): What It Is and How to Respond
Note: 10.2 is a card-present dispute for physical retail merchants.
Visa 10.2 is similar to 10.1 but covers a different type of card fraud. While 10.1 is about counterfeit chip cards (a copied card), 10.2 covers lost, stolen, or never-received chip cards used at non-EMV terminals. The actual legitimate chip card was used — by someone who stole or found it. If your EMV terminal had read the chip, it would have required PIN verification, likely stopping the fraud.
The liability rule is the same as 10.1: if your terminal read the chip, liability is with the issuer. If your terminal couldn't read the chip and processed it as a swipe, liability is yours. The key difference is academic — for evidence and response purposes, 10.1 and 10.2 are handled identically.
How 10.2 differs from 10.1
10.1: A fake copy of a card (counterfeit) — the fraudster created a duplicate using stolen magnetic stripe data.
10.2: The real card, used by someone who stole, found, or intercepted it — the fraudster had physical possession of the legitimate card.
Both result in the same merchant liability at non-EMV terminals, and both are fought with identical evidence.
Can you win this dispute?
Fight this dispute if...
- ✓Your terminal was EMV-enabled and the transaction receipt shows chip authorization (not swipe or fallback)
- ✓Terminal configuration logs confirm EMV was active at the time of the transaction
- ✓Processor authorization logs confirm chip data was transmitted
Accept this chargeback if...
- ✗Your terminal is not EMV-enabled
- ✗The transaction was processed as a magnetic stripe swipe or fallback
Evidence checklist
- ✅ Required
Transaction receipt showing chip authorization: The receipt must show the card was read via chip — not magnetic stripe or fallback. This is identical to what you need for 10.1.
- ✅ Required
Terminal EMV configuration log: Documentation confirming EMV chip reading was enabled on your terminal at the time of the transaction.
- ⭐ Strongly recommended
Processor authorization logs confirming chip data transmission: Authorization detail records from your acquirer showing EMV cryptogram data was included — the same evidence package as for a 10.1 dispute.
Key deadlines
Response window: 30 calendar days from the chargeback notification date.
The evidence requirements and response process for 10.2 are identical to 10.1 — your chip authorization record is the core of your defence.
Frequently asked questions
What is Visa 10.2 and how does it differ from 10.1?
Visa 10.2 is an EMV liability shift dispute for non-counterfeit card fraud — meaning the real card (not a copy) was used by someone who lost, stole, or intercepted it. Visa 10.1 covers counterfeit cards (a fake copy of the card). The underlying liability rule is the same for both: if your terminal read the chip, the issuer is liable; if your terminal processed it as a swipe, you are liable.
How do I fight a Visa 10.2 dispute?
The same way as 10.1 — provide a chip authorization record (transaction receipt showing chip read, not swipe) and your terminal configuration log confirming EMV was active and enabled at the time of the transaction. Processor authorization logs confirming chip data was transmitted will further strengthen your case.
Why do chip terminals prevent both 10.1 and 10.2?
EMV chip technology addresses both types of fraud. For counterfeit fraud (10.1), the chip generates a unique cryptogram per transaction that cannot be replicated — a counterfeit magnetic stripe cannot produce a valid chip cryptogram. For lost/stolen fraud (10.2), the chip requires PIN verification at chip-and-PIN terminals, making it much harder for a thief to complete a transaction without the cardholder's PIN.
What is a "never received issue" card?
A never received issue (NRI) card is a card that was mailed by the issuer but intercepted by a fraudster before it reached the legitimate cardholder. The cardholder never activated or used the card, yet it was used fraudulently at a merchant terminal. This is one of the fraud types covered by Visa 10.2 — the real card was used, just never by its rightful owner.
Related reason codes
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