As promised, here is the final installment of the Return of the ACH Transaction trilogy: Operator Returns.
Most returns are processed by the RDFI, Operator Returns (also called Rejects) never make it to the RDFI. They are returned or rejected by the ACH Operator – the RDFI never even sees these transactions. However, as with all other returns, there are limited reasons for which an ACH Operator may return transactions.
The most common of these Return Reason Codes is R13 – Invalid ACH Routing Number (formerly DFI Not Qualified to Participate). This simply means (in most cases) that the RDFI Routing Number in the File Header Record is incorrect.
There are of course several other codes such as;
R18 – Improper Effective Entry Date
R19 – Amount Field Error
R27 – Trace Number Error
Those, I think are the most commonly used codes among the bunch. If you want to check out the entire list, see page OR 120 of the 2009 ACH Rules Book.
And that’s returns. It’s a lot of information, and I could probably tell you a lot more, but hopefully, the picture is starting to come together.
I can’t guarantee there won’t be a part IV, but I just don’t think I’m up for it. Not today anyway.
Stay tuned for a great post from our new (ish) Marketing Manager. He’s a great guy by the name of Jay Alsup, who is just like you, he’s learning the ACH ropes too and he shares a bit of his experiences and observations.
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