Is there further information on the reason codes for cheques that are unpaid?
Yes, please find information and guidance on our most commonly used reason codes below.
For a number of these return reasons, you'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque, to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. For example, you could ask them to send you a direct bank transfer, which can be an easier/faster way of getting your payment.
Please be aware that where we can we will automatically represent a cheque for payment on two further occasions, if required. You don't need to do anything and we’ll get in touch if there's anymore problems. Details of when a cheque can be represented are included in the explanation of the reason code.
| Code | Description | What does this mean? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Refer to Drawer | The cheque issuer’s bank has not been able to pay the cheque. There could be a number of reasons, including there not being enough money in the person's account. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 2 | Refer to Draw - Please Represent | The cheque issuer’s bank have not been able to pay the cheque. This cheques will be automatically represented a maximum of twice. After the second occasion if the cheque is not paid we will not represent for payment. |
| 4 | Not signed in accordance with mandate | This cheque hasn't been signed correctly e.g. the wrong person signed the cheque. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 5 | No mandate | The cheque payee’s bank have been unable to determine whether the cheque is a genuine payment or not e.g. due to a lack of mandate. This cheque will be automatically represented a maximum of twice, after the second occasion if the cheque is not paid we will not represent for payment. |
| 6 | Payment stopped | A ‘stop’ has been placed on this cheque so that it isn’t paid. This could be for a number for reasons including the person who has sent the cheque making this request to their bank or a legal restriction being placed on the cheque issuer’s bank account. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 7 | Payment stopped - Theft Reported | The person who gave you the cheque has asked their bank to place a 'stop' on the payment, to ensure that it is not paid, because their chequebook has been stolen. You should contact the cheque issuer to seek an alternative form of payment. |
| 8 | Payment Stopped - Awaiting Confirmation - Please Represent | A ‘stop’ may have been placed on this cheque so that it isn’t paid. This cheque will be automatically represented a maximum of twice. After the second occasion if the cheque is not paid we will not represent for payment. |
| 9 | Payment Prohibited by Legal Order | There is a legal restriction in place which prevents this payment from being made from the cheque issuers account. You should contact the cheque issuer to seek an alternative form of payment. |
| 13 | Suspect Fraud or Counterfeit | The cheque issuer’s bank have been unable to determine whether the cheque is a genuine payment or not. This could be for a number of reasons including the possibility of fraud. |
| 14 | Account closed | The person who gave you the cheque has closed their account, which was completed before the cheque was presented for payment. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 16 | No account | The bank that the cheque is written on cannot find an account for the person who has given you the cheque. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 17 | Non clearing item | The type of payment that has been presented is not valid or cannot be processed by the Image Clearing System. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 18 | Post-dated | The cheque that's been given to you has been written with a future date on it and you should contact the person who gave you the cheque. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 19 | Out of date | The cheque that's been given to you was written more than six months ago and cannot be paid as it is considered ‘out of date’. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 20 | Words and figures differ | The cheque that you've paid in has been written incorrectly as the amount written in words and figures do not match. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 21 | Alteration Requires Drawer's Signature | The cheque that has been paid in appears to have been altered and therefore cannot be paid as the cheque should have been countersigned by the issuer. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 22 | Payee's Discharge Required/Irregular | The cheque that has been paid in requires additional information to be paid which was missing when it was presented for payment. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 23 | Cheque incomplete | The cheque that you've paid in has not been completed correctly, for example not all of the required fields have been filled in, or it doesn't comply with our Image Survivable Features (ISF) Security terms, so this cheque cannot be paid. An ISF is a security code, printed on the face of your cheque, which can help us identify counterfeit cheques during the processing lifecycle. |
| 34 | Advice of Drawing Required - Please Represent | The cheque that has been paid in requires additional information to be paid which was not provided when it was presented for payment. This cheque will be automatically represented a maximum of twice. After the second occasion if the cheque is not paid we will not represent for payment. |
| 42 | Poor image quality | The cheque image which the cheque issuer’s bank have received is not of sufficient quality to allow them to confirm it's valid and can be paid. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 43 | Stop - Duplicate Cheque | The cheque that has been presented for payment is a duplicate and has already been processed. You'll need to check that you have not already paid this cheque into your account or contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 45 | Payee, courtesy or legal amount illegible | The payee name or amount on the image of the cheque is not clear which means that the payment cannot be made to you. You'll need to contact the person who gave you the cheque to either get a replacement cheque or ask for a different type of payment. |
| 46 | Wrongly delivered | The cheque has been presented to the wrong bank for payment in error, resulting in an unpaid transaction on your account. Payment will be sought from the correct bank and we will contact you by letter if there are any further problems. |
