‘E-Check Payment In Progress’ Meaning

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An eCheck payment works like a paper check, except you don’t have to write a paper check and mail it or deliver it physically to the recipient.

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When you send or receive payments through the Check21 payment rails, you’ll notice that the payment status remains as 'e-check payment in progress' for a few days until the money is successfully deposited into the recipient’s account. In some instances, the status of the e-check payments will show 'pending,’ which is the same thing as 'payment in progress.'

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This payment status means that the payer is using the e-check payment process, which might take several days before the funds are deposited into the recipient's account. 

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In most cases, e-check payments take between three to eight days to fully settle, depending on the type of transaction. High-risk transactions take longer because the involved banks must do the due diligence to ensure the payments go through successfully. So, if you accept e-checks, you need to know what each e-check payment alert means.

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Importance of Monitoring E-Check Processing Status

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You also need to learn how to conduct an e-check payment status check to know if your payment was successful. For instance, if your e-check bounces, you’ll receive a message from the bank or payment processor informing you about the failed payment.

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Additionally, you also need to know what happens if an e-check bounces. You shouldn’t send an e-check if you’re unsure if your bank account has sufficient funds to process it because a bounced e-check can lead to the closure of your bank account and a low credit score.

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Why Does Your E-Check Read Payment in Progress?

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In most cases, an e-check takes about three business days to settle. So, the e-check payment in progress status shows that the payment has already been initiated and the bank is processing it.

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The payment processing company you choose for your e-checks will determine how long they take to go through. If the payment processor doesn’t have the right payment processing solutions, your e-check payments could take up to eight days to settle, which will delay your business transactions.

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Other Reasons for Delayed Payment Processing

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There are multiple other reasons why your e-check payment is still listed as 'in progress.'

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Payment During Irregular Hours

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If you’re accepting e-check payments on holidays or weekends, they may take longer than expected to settle because these aren’t banking business days. When your customer’s e-check payments are in progress, refrain from shipping any goods or offering any services because the e-checks may fail to clear.

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You should wait until the checks clear to ship the items or deliver the services paid for. If you deliver the items and the e-check bounces, you risk losing your funds, especially if the client made a fraudulent purchase.

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Verifying Payment Is Legitimate

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The 'payment in progress' status helps you to monitor your payments to avoid losing money to online scams. This is because your e-check processor is verifying with all banks involved that there is money in the outgoing account. Otherwise, you may deliver goods and services without ever receiving payment.

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How to Monitor E-Check Processing Status

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You can find the status of your e-check payment by looking into the transaction details. The payment status also includes essential information about the payment, like the expected clearing date.

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To check the clearing date of your e-checks, go to your processor's dashboard or bank account’s online portal and click on the 'Activity' button. Then, open the e-check payment for the transaction details. If you’re using your bank’s app, go to your e-wallet and click on the 'Activity' button. Next, click on the 'e-check Payment' button to see the expected clearing date.

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In Summary

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eCheck payments operate similarly to traditional paper checks but without the need for physical delivery. When using e-checks, you'll often see the status 'e-check payment in progress,' which indicates that the payment is being processed and may take a few days to deposit into the recipient's account. Occasionally, it may display as 'pending,' which means the same thing.

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The 'payment in progress' status also safeguards against online scams, as the e-check processor verifies the funds' availability before you provide goods or services.

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To monitor your e-check processing status, access transaction details, and check the expected clearing date through your processor's dashboard, bank's online portal, or e-wallet app.

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Understanding e-check payment statuses is essential for efficient financial management and safeguarding against issues like bounced checks and delays.

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