R17 - File Record Edit Criteria / Entry with Invalid Account Number Initiated Under Questionable Circumstances

What this code means

Dual-purpose code. Classically: a field the ACH Operator does not edit failed the RDFI's own edit checks, and the RDFI must name the offending field. Since 2020 it also lets an RDFI return an entry bearing an invalid account number that it believes was originated under questionable (fraudulent) circumstances - the RDFI marks it 'QUESTIONABLE'.

Typical causes

• Malformed or contradictory field content that the RDFI's edits caught
• Entry with an invalid account number that the RDFI suspects is fraudulent/account-enumeration
• Non-standard characters in a name or ID field

What to do

Correct the identified field and re-send. But if the return was flagged QUESTIONABLE, treat it as a suspected-fraud signal and do NOT simply re-send - investigate the origination.

What it looks like in an ACH return

The return arrives as an Addenda Record (type 99), 94 characters wide. The return reason code sits in positions 4-6.

799R17091000010000001      09100001                                            091000019000001

Tools for this code

Decode a real status report, or check a payment file before you send it — all in your browser, nothing uploaded.

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