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EverythingHR12
September 11, 2024
Question

Concerns Over ACH Payment Hold and Compliance with Federal Regulations

  • September 11, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 0 views

Dear Intuit QuickBooks Team,

 

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the five-day hold that QuickBooks places on client ACH payments. While the stated intention behind this policy is to protect clients, the current process—whereby funds are debited directly from the client's account—does not align with optimal consumer protection practices. A more appropriate procedure would involve notifying the client’s bank directly and allowing the banking institution to contact the client to verify the transaction.

This approach would be more consistent with federal regulatory guidelines that advocate for clear, transparent, and client-centered financial processes. As it stands, the claim of protecting clients by holding funds does not seem to adhere to these standards.

Moreover, this hold significantly impacts the cash flow of small businesses that use QuickBooks, hindering their ability to deliver products and services for which they have already received payment. The delay in releasing funds also raises concerns that QuickBooks may benefit financially from the interest accrued during this period, which could be seen as taking advantage of vulnerable businesses. This practice is not only ethically questionable but could also be seen as exploitative.

Given the widespread use of QuickBooks by small businesses, I urge a review of this policy to better align with both ethical standards and federal financial regulations, ensuring fair treatment and operational efficiency for small businesses.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response and a resolution that supports the needs and rights of all QuickBooks users.

Regards,

Fharris

    2 replies

    FishingForAnswers
    FishingForAnswers
    September 11, 2024

    This should stay on the first page for at least a while.

    A
    AdonL
    September 11, 2024

    I appreciate the thorough explanation of your concerns about the on-hold payments, EverythingHR12. I'll provide information about the funds on hold and the processes that will be done from here to resolve this.

     

    Receiving payments is necessary for everyone, particularly for small business owners. Intuit places funds on hold when something unexpected occurs in a payment transaction(s). Although this can be challenging, please be assured that we're here to assist and guide you throughout the process.

     

    To help you understand holds on your payments and how to minimize them in the future, here are some of the common reasons:

     

    • When a payment processing exceeds the established maximum dollar amount expected
    • A transaction following multiple authorization attempts and failures
    • When certain transactions require verification of your business type to ensure it is compliant with the Intuit Acceptable Use Policy
    • When the systems identify processing patterns that could pose a risk to you, your customer, or Intuit

     

    If either event occurs, resulting in funds being on hold, Intuit will contact you via the phone number you have provided on your merchant account. You will also receive an email with detailed instructions on how to fix the issue. The sooner you respond to this email and submit any requested document, the faster Intuit will complete the review and lift the hold.

     

    Moreover, if you’ve submitted all of the requested paperwork for the initial payment hold and two business days have passed, I recommend contacting our Merchant Service support for further assistance. They can review your account and guide you on addressing the hold promptly.

     

    Furthermore, check out these resources below containing relevant information when managing payment holds in QuickBooks Online:

     

     

    Additionally, you can refer to this article to learn how to manage and avoid payment holds in the future: Managing and Avoiding Payment Holds.

     

    Mention me in the comments if you have further questions about holds on payments in QuickBooks. We'll be with you every step of the way.

    E
    EverythingHR12Author
    September 12, 2024

    Thank you for your response, QuickBooks. However, the solutions provided do not apply to my situation. I have consistently used the same client information for years without issue. Client payments hit by account the next day. The policy practices that Intuit has implemented seem overly aggressive and could be considered predatory.

      G
      GebelAlainaM
      September 12, 2024

      Thank you for your clarification and thoughts about the merchant processes in QuickBooks, @EverythingHR12. Let me share more details about it.

      When using ACH or Credit card payments, it's stated in the legal terms and conditions that you authorize Intuit to validate and debit your bank account or credit card for all invoice payments you initiate using the Payment Service. 

      You can check out this website to learn more about merchant payments terms of service: Merchant Payment Legal Terms.

      Additionally, per my colleague above, payments being withheld means that QuickBooks still needs to undergo several verifications and will notify you of the additional measurements you need to perform. You can refer to the information provided above for more details or browse through this article: Understanding Payment Holds in QuickBooks Online.

      I've also included this article to review some of the most commonly asked payment questions in QuickBooks payments: Common questions about QuickBooks Payments deposits in QuickBooks Online.

      Tag me in the comment section if you have clarification about merchant processes and QuickBooks payments or other QuickBooks-related queries. I'm always here to assist you.

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