Operator Problem Guide
Ach Payment Not Showing Up
ACH payments that do not show up are almost always delayed, not lost. Standard ACH takes 3–5 business days to settle; same-day ACH takes 1 business day. If your payment is within that window, it is likely still in transit. If it has been more than 5 business days, the payment may have been returned — which means it will show up as a reversal, not a deposit.
Why This Happens
- Configuration gaps between tools or services
- Missing integrations or manual workarounds that weren't designed to scale
- Changes in vendor behavior, pricing, or API that weren't communicated clearly
What To Check First
- Verify your current setup matches the vendor's latest documentation
- Look for recent changes — platform updates, new team members, configuration drift
- Check if the problem is consistent or intermittent (different root causes, different fixes)
When To Escalate
- The problem is costing you money or customers per week
- You've spent more than 2 hours on it without progress
- A vendor quoted you more than $500 and you're not sure if it's necessary
Dealing with this right now?
The fastest way to check: log into your payment processor (Stripe, Square, Dwolla, or your bank) and look for an ACH return code. R01 means insufficient funds. R02 means the account was closed. R10 means the account holder says they did not authorize it. Each code has a different resolution path — knowing the code tells you whether to contact your customer, your processor, or your bank.
