Stop an automatic payment by contacting your bank or the company charging you

You have two ways to stop an automatic payment. The fastest is usually to call or log into your bank's website and tell them to block the payment — this is called a stop payment order. The other way is to contact the company taking the money directly and ask them to cancel the arrangement. Both work, but they protect you differently, so you may want to do both.

A stop payment order through your bank stops that specific payment from leaving your account. It does not cancel your agreement with the company — if you owe them money, you still owe it. Contacting the company directly cancels the arrangement itself, which means they should stop trying to charge you. If you do only one, do the bank stop payment order first, because it takes effect when ready and costs you nothing.

Key Takeaways

  • Call your bank's customer service number or log into your online banking to request a stop payment order, which blocks a single scheduled payment from leaving your account.
  • A stop payment order does not cancel your agreement with the company — you still owe the debt, but that one charge will not go through.
  • Contact the company directly to cancel the automatic payment arrangement itself, which tells them to stop charging you going forward.
  • Do the bank stop payment order first because it takes effect when ready, then contact the company to cancel the arrangement permanently.
  • Keep a record of the date, time, and name of the person you spoke to at your bank, and ask for a confirmation number for the stop payment order.

How to place a stop payment order through your bank

Call your bank's customer service line — the number is on the back of your debit card or on your bank statement. Tell them you want to place a stop payment order on a specific charge. Have ready the name of the company charging you, the amount, and the date the payment is scheduled to come out. Some banks let you do this through their website or mobile app instead of calling, but calling is fastest if you need it stopped before the payment processes.

Your bank will ask you to confirm the details and may charge you a fee — this varies by bank, but is often between $15 and $35 per stop payment order. Ask about the fee before you authorize it. The bank will give you a confirmation number. Write it down along with the date and time you called. The stop payment order usually takes effect within one business day, but some banks can block it the same day if you call before the payment processes.

A stop payment order is temporary and covers only that one payment. If the company tries to charge you again next month, you will need to place another stop payment order or contact the company to cancel the arrangement permanently.

Contact the company directly to cancel the automatic payment

Find the company's customer service number on your bill, on their website, or in your email receipts. Call and tell them you want to cancel the automatic payment arrangement. Have your account number with them ready. Ask them to confirm in writing — by email or letter — that the automatic payment has been cancelled. This is important because it creates a record if there is a dispute later.

Some companies make this harder than others. If they refuse or say they need a written request, ask for their mailing address and send a letter. Keep a copy for yourself. In the letter, include your account number, the date you are writing, and a clear statement that you are cancelling the automatic payment arrangement. Send it certified mail so you have proof of delivery.

Cancelling with the company stops them from charging you going forward, but it does not stop a payment that has already been processed or is in the pipeline. That is why the bank stop payment order is important — it blocks the charge itself.

What to do if a payment goes through after you cancel

If the company charges you after you cancelled the arrangement, contact your bank when ready. Tell them the charge was unauthorized and ask them to dispute it — this means the bank will investigate and may return the money to your account while they look into it. You will need to explain that you cancelled the arrangement and have proof (the confirmation email or letter from the company, or your notes from the phone call).

The bank has a set amount of time to investigate — usually 10 business days for a provisional credit and up to 45 days for a full investigation. During this time, the money may be returned to your account temporarily. Keep all your records: the cancellation confirmation, the stop payment order confirmation number, and any emails or letters from the company.

When you need to act quickly

If a payment is scheduled to come out today or tomorrow, call your bank when ready rather than using their website or app. Explain the urgency and ask if they can process the stop payment order over the phone right now. Some banks can block a payment within hours if you call before it processes. Have all the payment details ready when you call.

If your bank cannot stop it in time, the payment may still go through. In that case, contact the company right away and ask them to reverse the charge. If they refuse, dispute it with your bank as described above.

Preventing automatic payments in the future

Before you set up any automatic payment, write down the company name, the amount, and the date it will charge each month. Keep this list in a safe place. Review your bank statement every month and look for charges you do not recognize. The sooner you catch an unwanted charge, the easier it is to stop.

Some companies offer a choice between automatic and manual payments. If you have the option, manual payment gives you more control — you decide when to pay instead of the company deciding for you. If you do use automatic payments, set a phone reminder a few days before each charge so you can check your account and make sure the amount is correct.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will stopping a payment hurt my credit score?

Stopping a single payment does not hurt your credit. However, if you owe the company money and do not pay it another way, they may report you as late or send your account to a collection agency, which does hurt your credit. Stop the automatic payment if you want to pay manually instead, but make sure you pay by the due date.

Can a company keep charging me if I told them to stop?

If you cancelled the arrangement and they keep charging you, each charge is unauthorized. Dispute each one with your bank. If it happens repeatedly, contact your bank about blocking all payments from that company, or consider closing the account and opening a new one.

How long does it take for a stop payment order to work?

Most stop payment orders take effect within one business day. If you call before the payment processes — usually before 2 or 3 p.m. on the day it is scheduled — some banks can block it the same day. After the payment has already left your account, you cannot stop it; you would need to dispute it instead.

Do I have to pay a fee to stop a payment?

Most banks charge a fee for a stop payment order, usually $15 to $35. Some banks waive the fee if you are a long-time customer or have a premium account. Ask your bank about the fee before you authorize the stop payment order. Contacting the company directly to cancel costs nothing.

What if the company says I owe them money for cancelling early?

Check your contract or agreement with the company. Some services (like gym memberships or subscriptions) have early cancellation fees, and those are legal. Others claim you owe money when you do not. If you disagree, ask the company to send you the contract in writing. If they cannot, you can dispute the charge with your bank.