How can I stop a payday lender from electronically taking money out of my bank or credit union account? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

You have the right to stop a payday lender from taking automatic electronic payments from your account, even if you previously allowed them. You may have signed a payment authorization, which is sometimes called an “ACH Authorization.” This gives the payday lender the ability to debit your account when your payment is due. If you decide you want to stop automatic debit payments from your account, here is what you can do.

How to stop automatic electronic debits

Call and write the company

Tell the company that you are taking away your permission for the company to take automatic payments out of your bank or credit union account. This is called “revoking authorization.” You can use this sample letter .

Call and write your bank or credit union

Tell your bank that you have “revoked authorization” for the company to take automatic payments from your account. You can use this sample letter . Some banks and credit unions may offer you an online form.

Stop payment

Even if you have not revoked your authorization with the company, you can stop an automatic payment from being charged to your account by giving your bank a “stop payment order.” This instructs your bank to stop the company from taking payments from your account. You can use this sample letter to submit a “stop payment order.” Here are the steps:

  1. To stop the next scheduled payment, give your bank the stop payment order at least three business days before the payment is scheduled. You can give the order in person, over the phone or in writing.
  2. To stop future payments, you might have to send your bank the stop payment order in writing. If your bank asks for a written order, make sure to provide it within 14 days of your oral notification.
  3. Be aware that banks commonly charge a fee for stop payment orders.

Monitor your accounts

Tell your bank or credit union right away if you see a payment that you did not allow (authorize) or a payment that was made after you revoked authorization. Federal law gives you the right to dispute and get your money back for any unauthorized transfers from your account, as long as you tell your bank in time. You can use our sample letter .

Revoking or cancelling your automatic payment does not cancel your contract with the payday lender. If you revoke or cancel an automatic payment on a loan, you still owe the balance on that loan.

If you’re having a problem stopping a lender from taking money out of your account, you may want to contact your state regulator or state attorney general . You can also submit a complaint to the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-2372.

How can I stop a payday lender from electronically taking money out of my bank or credit union account? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

FAQs

How can I stop a payday lender from electronically taking money out of my bank or credit union account? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? ›

You should provide your bank with a copy of the letter that revokes your authorization for automatic withdrawals. The CFPB also provides a sample letter for notifying your bank that you've told the lender to stop withdrawing money from your account.

How do I block payday loans from debiting my account? ›

How to stop automatic electronic debits
  1. Call and write the company. Tell the company that you are taking away your permission for the company to take automatic payments out of your bank or credit union account. ...
  2. Call and write your bank or credit union. ...
  3. Stop payment. ...
  4. Monitor your accounts.
Aug 28, 2023

Can you block ACH withdrawals? ›

You can do this over the phone, or you can write the company stating clearly that you are revoking authorization. Then, you'll need to contact the bank or credit union that's associated with the payment and let them know that you've revoked authorization from the company.

How to stop a loan company from taking money out of your account? ›

To stop automatic payments from your account, here are the steps you can take.
  1. Call and write the company. ...
  2. Call and write your bank or credit union. ...
  3. Your bank or credit union might use stop payment orders. ...
  4. Monitor your accounts.
Aug 28, 2023

How do I stop an online payment transaction? ›

To stop payment, you need to notify your bank at least three business days before the transaction is scheduled to be made and your bank may charge a fee. The notice to stop the transaction may be made orally or in writing. A bank can require written confirmation of an oral stop payment request.

Can you block a company from taking money out of your bank account? ›

Federal law offers some protections for automatic debit payments that are recurring. At any time, you're legally allowed to stop a company from taking automatic withdrawals.

How do I tell my bank to stop payday loans automatically withdrawing? ›

Notify Your Bank to Stop Payment on the Withdrawal

Your bank must stop payment on an automatic withdrawal if you give it at least three business days' notice in person, over the phone, or in writing.

Can I block a payment coming out of my account? ›

You can tell the card issuer by phone, email or letter. Your card issuer has no right to insist that you ask the company taking the payment first. They have to stop the payments if you ask them to. If you ask to stop a payment, the card issuer should investigate each case on its own merit.

Can ACH mandate be Cancelled? ›

If you're wondering how to cancel ACH mandate in SBI or BOI or any other bank, then to cancel ACH payment of your bank you simply have to provide your organization's name and the amount you pay per month. Although you must notify your bank at least three days ahead of your payment date.

Can I tell my bank to block a transaction? ›

You can contact your bank and place a stop payment order on the recurring transaction. Generally, a stop payment order is only good for six months. To stop payment, you will need to notify your bank at least three business days before the next payment is scheduled to be made. Notice may be made orally or in writing.

Can I close my bank account to stop payday loans? ›

Can I close my checking account to try to stop a payday lender from taking money from it? Yes, but the payday lender will probably take collection action quickly.

How to stop payday loan garnishment? ›

5 Ways to Stop a Garnishment
  1. Pay Off the Debt. If your financial situation is dire, paying off the debt may not be an option. ...
  2. Work With Your Creditor. ...
  3. Challenge the Garnishment. ...
  4. File a Claim of Exemption. ...
  5. File for Bankruptcy.
Oct 11, 2022

How to stop electronic funds transfer? ›

You will need to notify your bank at least three business days before the scheduled date of the transfer and inform it that you wish to stop payment. You can provide the notice orally, but the bank may require you to confirm the request in writing.

Can you block an ACH payment? ›

Yes. ACH users can revoke their ACH payment authorization and stop the transfer. However, they must notify their biller as well as the bank or credit union that holds the account from which the funds would be deducted.

How do you block a company from charging your credit card? ›

Contact the company: Contact the merchant's billing or customer service department by phone and state that you no longer want your bank account to be automatically charged.

How do I stop automatic payments from my account? ›

To stop the next scheduled payment, give your bank the stop payment order at least three business days before the payment is scheduled. You can give the order in person, over the phone or in writing. To stop future payments, you might have to send your bank the stop payment order in writing.

How do I block a payment from coming out of my account? ›

You can contact your bank and place a stop payment order on the recurring transaction. Generally, a stop payment order is only good for six months. To stop payment, you will need to notify your bank at least three business days before the next payment is scheduled to be made. Notice may be made orally or in writing.

How do I block a company from taking payments? ›

To withdraw consent, simply tell whoever issued your card (the bank, building society or credit card company) that you don't want the payment to be made. You can tell the card issuer by phone, email or letter. Your card issuer has no right to insist that you ask the company taking the payment first.

How many times can a payday loan try to debit your account? ›

The rule also limits a lender's ability to repeatedly cash a check or debit a consumer's account after two unsuccessful attempts. This debit limit applies not only to all short-term and balloon loans, but to longer-term installment loans and lines of credit with an APR under the Truth in Lending Act that exceeds 36%.

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