Sometimes, no matter how careful you are with your bank account, you may want to cancel an ACH payment, and fortunately, it is very often possible to do so. Even if you previously sent out a recurring automatic payment, you can hit the brakes on that transaction.
Many of us have learned to rely on ACH payments, which can be used for a business’s payroll, tax payments, bill payments, account transfers, and more. You may well pay many of your monthly bills this way, from your utilities to your streaming service subscription. Because of this popularity, consumers and businesses alike can benefit from understanding how ACH works. Beyond that, knowing how to halt a payment — one that could potentially derail your financial health — is vital, too.
With that in mind, here is what you need to know about:
• What ACH payments are
• How to stop ACH payments or cancel an ACH payment
• How to reverse an ACH payment
• How to spot common ACH frauds
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What Are ACH Payments?
ACH payments are a method of money transfer between banks made through the ACH or Automated Clearing House network. NACHA (National Automated Clearing House Association) governs these transactions, which can be an alternative to other payment options, like credit cards.
With ACH, the source of the funds come directly from a bank account. So they are quite seamless and convenient; no paper checks or postage stamps required. They are also open to both consumers and businesses alike as long as they have a U.S. bank account.
One downside of ACH transfers, though, is that they can take longer than options like a wire transfer. When you compare a wire transfer vs. an ACH payment, wired funds can transfer within a day. In terms of how long an ACH payment takes, it may be several days. However, ACH has the upper hand in terms of cost: They are generally less expensive than other payment processing methods and often free.
ACH payments can break down into two categories: ACH credit and ACH debit.
An ACH credit is like a virtual check. The payer tells the ACH network to transfer their account funds to the payee’s account. In contrast, ACH debit (the more popular version of ACH transfer) involves a recipient pulling funds from the payer’s account. (For instance, this kind of payment occurs when you authorize your car loan to be automatically debited on a certain day of each month.) Merchants often prefer this kind of automatic debiting as it reduces the possibility of late or failed payments.
Can ACH Payments Be Canceled or Returned?
So, let’s say you just moved and forgot to cancel your gym membership at your old location. You realize that a payment is about to be sent out. Or maybe you set up a one-time payment to a vendor but notice (oops!) that you typo’d the amount? Now what? Can you stop an ACH payment from a checking account or other bank account?
Breathe a sigh of relief. Yes, you can cancel or return an ACH payment. This is partially possible due to the time frame of ACH transfers. ACH transfers can take multiple days to settle, and, as a result, you have more time to stop or reverse your transaction.
However, rules can vary depending on your bank or financial institution. For example, some may be able to cancel an ACH transfer online or over the phone. Meanwhile, other institutions may require a written form requesting cancellation.
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How to Reverse ACH Payments
Let’s look at reversing an ACH payment in a little more detail. At some point, an ACH transfer may involve a mistake. It’s easy to type in the wrong dollar amount or otherwise err when it comes to making payments without cash in hand. Regardless of the circumstances, you have to wait for the payment to go through first. Then, you can reverse the ACH payment.
Banks have different ways of conducting this process (we’ll go into more detail on this in a moment), so check with yours on the exact protocol. Once the payment is interrupted, the bank should reach out to the account holder after the payment reverses to confirm the details.
ACH Reversal Requirements
Let’s learn a little bit more about this process. NACHA, the organization that oversees ACH payments, has specific qualifications that determine if an entry is erroneous. If these details are satisfied, you are then allowed to reverse your payment without an issue. To qualify, an entry must meet one of the following conditions:
• Be a duplicate of a previously initiated entry
• Transferred on the wrong date
• Include a mistake in the sender or recipient’s account number
• Transferred the incorrect amount
These scenarios cover many of the situations that would lead you to cancel or reverse a payment.
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How to Stop an ACH Payment
So you want to cancel a payment because perhaps it was sent incorrectly or you no longer want to complete the transaction? Let’s learn how to cancel an ACH payment.
In this situation, it’s actually to your benefit that ACH payments take several days to settle. This means you have some time to halt an ACH transaction if you need to. However, every bank operates differently and may have its own rules on how to stop an ACH payment. For example, you may find that your bank can cancel an ACH payment online or over the phone. But other institutions may need you to submit a physical form canceling the transaction. Check with the institution that holds your account to find out how to proceed.
You can also cancel your recurring ACH debit payments. But you have to do that within three business days before the funds are due. You will probably need to contact the entity expecting your payment. The exact method might depend on your situation. Some companies may accept a phone call, while others might need a written authorization.
After that, you’ll need to address the financial institution associated with the transfer and let them know about the change. In some cases, this may require a stop payment order which instructs the bank to hold off on any automated transaction. This gives you time to formally cancel your payment arrangement. This can come with a fee, but it varies bank by bank. Check with yours for details.
How to Update Direct Deposit Details
A quick look at the other side of the coin: Let’s say you are receiving funds by direct deposit (perhaps your paycheck or government payments), and realize you need to update your details. If you have changed bank accounts — maybe you found a high-interest online savings account you can’t resist — you’ll need to let the entity that is sending you funds know your new info. You may be able to do this online for benefits like Social Security payments; otherwise, calling the issuer of the deposit may be another option. If it’s your paycheck you’re concerned about, contact your HR department to see the best way to share your new account specifics.
You’ll probably want to do this a few days before a deposit usually hits, since ACH payments take a few days to process.
Common ACH Frauds
While the ACH network makes sending money to businesses or services fast and simple, it is not perfect. As a result, people can use the system to their advantage. It is possible for a company or consumer to face fraud when making an ACH transfer.
There are various tools at criminals’ disposal these days. But they may only need two details to commit ACH fraud: your bank routing number and your business checking account number. With this information, the criminal may be able to use your finances to pay for anything from services to goods. And they can have the additional option to make these payments either online or by phone.
Typically, fraudsters collect this information via malware and phishing emails. Web transactions are also an easy way to obtain your personal data. For example, scammers might offer you overseas money, discounted products, or other appealing lies. They hope that you will be fooled and enter your account details so they can then commit fraud.
You can protect yourself against fraud by being wary of text messages and emails asking for account verification (they may be phishing and/or have malware embedded) and taking the time to double-check, by phone or other means, requests to update your information. Your bank may also be able to place an ACH block or filter on your account to prevent unauthorized transactions. Contact your bank’s fraud prevention team to learn your options.
The Takeaway
The ACH network is a valuable payment processor that consumers and businesses in the U.S. rely on. However, situations can arise that may trigger you to want to stop or reverse a payment, such as if you had entered details incorrectly. Fortunately, it’s possible to stop ACH payments from your checking account or reverse the ACH payment. Then you can notify the others impacted and get your banking transactions back on the right track again.
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FAQ
How long will it take to reverse an ACH payment?
A rejection or return of an ACH payment can usually be settled within two business days. However, some cases can take as long as two months (or 60 days) if the transaction is disputed.
Can you amend an ACH transfer?
Yes. ACH users can revoke their ACH payment authorization and stop the transfer. However, they must notify their biller as well as the bank or credit union that holds the account from which the funds would be deducted.
How do I stop ACH payments on my checking account?
If you want to stop an ACH payment, you’ll need to contact your bank at least three days before the ACH transfer’s date. This may involve an ACH payment stop request submitted in writing within a 14-day time frame. A small fee may be involved in halting the payment.
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SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.
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