The ACH network is a great way to move money around, but there are times when things can go wrong. If you have ever had an ACH transaction go wrong, you may have been told that you can file for an ACH reversal.
But what exactly is an ACH reversal, and how does it work?
In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at ACH reversal rules, and how you can use them to fix problems with your ACH transactions.
What is an ACH Reversal?
An ACH reversal is a way to cancel an ACH transaction that has already been processed. If you have ever had a check that was returned because of insufficient funds, an ACH reversal is similar to that.
The ACH network is designed for batches of transactions to be processed together, and once those batches are processed, the transactions are considered final. That means that if there is a problem with one of the transactions in the batch, you can’t just stop that one transaction from going through – you have to cancel the entire batch.
ACH reversal requests must be made within 5 days of the original transaction, and they can only be requested for batches that have not yet been processed.
How to Request an ACH Reversal
If you need to request an ACH reversal, you will need to contact your bank or the company that processed the original transaction. You will need to provide them with some information about the transaction, including the date of the transaction, the amount of the transaction, and the ABA routing number for the bank that processed the transaction.
Once you have this information, you can usually just call your bank and ask them to process the reversal request.
What Happens Once an ACH Reversal is Requested?
Once you have requested an ACH reversal, the bank or company that processed the original transaction will send a notice to the other banks involved in the transaction, telling them to stop processing the payment.
The banks will then have a limited time to process the reversal request, and if they are unable to do so, they will return the money to the account from which it was originally withdrawn.
Once the reversal is processed, you should receive a notice from your bank confirming that the transaction has been reversed.
What if My Reversal Request is Denied?
If your reversal request is denied, it may be because the transaction was not eligible for a reversal, or because the bank was unable to process the request in time.
If your reversal request is denied, you may still be able to get your money back by asking your bank to file a dispute with the company that processed the original transaction.
The Bottom Line
ACH reversals are a great way to fix problems with ACH transactions, but they can be tricky to understand. Be sure to contact your bank or the company that processed the original transaction if you have any questions about how they work.