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[Finance & Accounting](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/finance-accounting?hsLang=en) # ACH Reporting - Overview **Standard ACH payments are not guaranteed.** Unlike credit card payments, which perform real-time fund verification and reserve money instantly, an ACH payment is simply and electronic request for funds that takes 1 to 3 business days to settle. ##### **Why Standard ACH payments Fail or Return?** Because there is no real- time balance check when an ACH transfer is initiated, a transaction can fail or be reversed after it has been submitted. Common reasons include: - **Insufficient Funds (NSF):** The account does not have enough money to cover the transfer when the request hits the receiving bank. - **Account Status Issues:** The bank account is closed, frozen, or invalid. - **Stop Payments & Chargebacks:** Consumers can instruct their bank to place a stop payment or dispute a debit (e.e., claiming it was unauthorized) up to 60 days after the charge appears. - **Administrative Errors:** Incorrect routing or account numbers provided during setup. ##### **How Merchants Address ACH Return Risks?** Because standard ACH carries return risk, businesses managing ACH transactions generally use a few strategies to protect themselves:  - **Holding Periods:** Merchants wait several business days until the payment fully clears and settles before shipping goods or providing services. - **Third-Party ¨Guaranteed ACH¨ Services:** Payment processors (such as Plaid or Aeropay) offer risk-scoring services. For a fee, these services evaluate account data in real-time and assume the financial risk by reimbursing the merchant if an approved ACH transaction subsequently returns. - **Real- Time Payment Alternatives:** Networks like RTP (Real-Time Payments) or FedNow provide instant, non- reversible, and guaranteed bank-to-bank transfers, eliminating the settlement delay inherent to traditional ACH. - [Sales & Marketing](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/sales-marketing?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Customer](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/sales-marketing?hsLang=en#customer) - [Event & Order Management](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/sales-marketing?hsLang=en#event-order-management) - [Reports](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/sales-marketing?hsLang=en#reports) - [Marketing](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/sales-marketing?hsLang=en#marketing) - [Sales](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/sales-marketing?hsLang=en#sales) - [Finance & Accounting](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/finance-accounting?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Accounting Tools](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/finance-accounting?hsLang=en#accounting-tools) - [Customer Financials](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/finance-accounting?hsLang=en#customer-financials) - [Financial Reports](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/finance-accounting?hsLang=en#financial-reports) - [Commissions & Goals](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/finance-accounting?hsLang=en#commissions-goals) - [Payroll Processing](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/finance-accounting?hsLang=en#payroll-processing) - [Production](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/production?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Kitchen Management](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/production?hsLang=en#kitchen-management) - [Dispatching & Shipping](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/production?hsLang=en#dispatching-shipping) - [Event Staffing](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/production?hsLang=en#event-staffing) - [Event Production](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/production?hsLang=en#event-production) - [Production Reporting](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/production?hsLang=en#production-reporting) - [Returns](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/production?hsLang=en#returns) - [Purchasing & Inventory](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/production?hsLang=en#purchasing-inventory) - [Reports](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/production?hsLang=en#reports) - [Data Items](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/data-items?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Food Management](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/data-items?hsLang=en#food-management) - [Beverage Management](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/data-items?hsLang=en#beverage-management) - [Equipment Management](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/data-items?hsLang=en#equipment-management) - [Miscellaneous Items](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/data-items?hsLang=en#miscellaneous-items) - [HR Management](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/data-items?hsLang=en#hr-management) - [Vendor Management](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/data-items?hsLang=en#vendor-management) - [Venue Management](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/data-items?hsLang=en#venue-management) - [Reports](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/data-items?hsLang=en#reports) - [Database Tools](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/data-items?hsLang=en#database-tools) - [General Setup](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/general-setup?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Marketing](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/general-setup?hsLang=en#marketing) - [Software Updates Timeline](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/software-updates-timeline?hsLang=en#main-content) - [New Development](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/software-updates-timeline?hsLang=en#new-development) - [Online Portal](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/software-updates-timeline?hsLang=en#online-portal) - [Mobile Apps](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/software-updates-timeline?hsLang=en#mobile-apps) - [Legacy Development](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/software-updates-timeline?hsLang=en#legacy-development) - [Elecate User Guide](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/elecate-user-guide?hsLang=en) - [Elecate Mobile App](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/elecate-mobile-app?hsLang=en) - [Elecate Shopping Cart](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/elecate-shopping-cart?hsLang=en) - [Elecate Academy](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/elecate-academy?hsLang=en#main-content) - [User Guide](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/elecate-academy?hsLang=en#user-guide) - [Upcoming Releases](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/upcoming-releases?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Upcoming Core Releases](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/upcoming-releases?hsLang=en#upcoming-core-releases) - [Integrations](https://faq.elecate.com/faq/integrations?hsLang=en) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://faq.elecate.com/hubfs/Elecate_pri.svg "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.elecate.com?hsLang=en) Help Center Copyright © 2026, Elecate