The invention provides a method and system for blocking fraudulent or
incorrect Automated Clearing House (ACH) debits. In an embodiment of the
invention, the number of fraudulent and incorrect ACH debits is
significantly reduced by examining an ACH debit entry and determining if
it is identified as a consumer-oriented transaction directed to a
commercial account. Particularly, a number of computer programs is
provided at a Receiving Depository Financial Institution (RDFI) to
automatically return ACH debits to the Originating Depository Financial
Institution (ODFI) via the ACH Operator if the standard entry code (SEC)
identifies the transaction as a consumer oriented transaction and the
paying account, i.e., Receiver, as a commercial account. Consumer ACH
debits can be posted to a commercial account, however an immediate and
automatic credit in an amount equal to the debit is applied to negate the
debit. Within 24 hours, a message is returned to the Originator's ODFI
specifying that the debit is unauthorized, thereby providing an audit
trail of the unauthorized debit for all involved parties in the ACH
network.