R38 ACH return code: Stop Payment on Source Document
What R38 means
The customer had placed a stop payment on the check that was converted to an ACH payment (ARC or BOC).
R38 key facts
| Official title | Stop Payment on Source Document |
|---|---|
| Returned by | Receiving bank (RDFI) |
| Time frame | 60 calendar days The receiving bank can send the return for up to 60 calendar days after the payment settled. No written statement from the account holder is needed. |
| Applies to | Consumer and business accounts |
| Can you send it again? | Only with a new authorization from the customer after the return. |
| Type of return | Check conversion |
Why R38 happens
- A stop payment order was already in place on the check.
What to do next
If you sent the payment
- Contact the customer and get their authorization before you try to collect again.
If you got the notice about your own account
- Tell the business why you stopped the check.
Got a return file from your bank? Open it in the ACH file viewer to see the code next to each payment.
Sources
- 2024 ACH Quick Reference Guide, EPCOR
- 2024 ACH Quick Reference Guide for Corporate Users, EPCOR
- ACH Return, NOC and Transaction Codes, Commerce Bank
- ACH Return Reason Codes and Time Frames, CBS Bank
General information, not legal or financial advice. Rules change and banks set their own requirements. Check with your bank before you act. ACH Forms is not affiliated with Nacha.