How to Stop an Automatic Checking Account Withdrawal

Payments taken out of your checking account can be very convenient and help you save time. Payments can be for an Internet provider, insurance premiums, car payment or a mortgage payment. These payments come out automatically on a specified date that is set up by you. If you want to cancel these automatic payments, you will need to go through a certain procedure. You will need to put in your request within a reasonable time frame.

Instructions

1

Confirm how many automatic checking account automatic withdrawals need to be stopped. If you have several withdrawals you will need to make a list for all companies. Gather the contact information for each company. The faster you respond the better chance you have of stopping the charges from going through.

2

Determine why you are having the checking account withdrawals canceled. If you are opening another checking account, you may want to take care of that process first. Get the new checking account open and then call the companies that are deducting the payments and give them the new checking account information, including the routing number and checking account number.

3

Call the customer service department. Let the company know you wish to cancel the automatic deductions being taken from your checking account. Some companies will require that you put your request in five or six days before the payment is scheduled for deduction. If you wait too late the payment will come out for one final time and will not be stopped until the next due date.

4

Wait until you receive your next checking account statement. The charges should be stopped if you called in time. If the charges are still showing up on your checking account statement you may need to call again. Transactions are not always canceled on time even when you call on time. A delay can happen for a variety of reasons. Someone may have forgotten to process your request or it may have been overlooked. If these charges continue to be deducted from your checking account, it can really cause your checking account to be overdrawn.

5

Contact your bank. If you cannot get the company to stop the automatic checking account withdrawals, your bank may be able to assist you with this process. The charge will need to be disputed with your bank. Sometimes intervention by your bank may be the next step to get the issue resolved. They may be able to exert more influence if the company continues to delay the cancellation.