How long a stop payment lasts

A cheque, in the United States

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's stop payment page, last reviewed 5 September 2025, says to contact the bank or credit union right away. The bank may charge a fee. The process, and how long the stop lasts, varies. Ask that institution.

The same page says most states have laws that if you make the request in writing before the cheque has been completely processed, the cheque cannot be cashed for six months. In some cases the stop expires after one year. After it expires, the bank may pay the cheque if someone presents it. You can place another stop when the first one ends. The CFPB says that to permanently stop the payment, consider closing the account and opening a new one. That is the CFPB's option for a cheque that might be presented again. It is not a step this page tells you to take for a card purchase.

The fee each named bank prints is already on stop payment fees in the US and Canada. This page does not copy that table. A stop that fails can still leave the fee on the statement. Write the date of the request and the date of any later payment.

A preauthorized electronic payment

A company that pulls money from the account on a schedule is not a paper cheque. The CFPB's page on stopping a payday lender's electronic debit says you can revoke the authorization with the company, and you can also give the bank a stop payment order. To stop the next payment, give the bank the order at least three business days before it is scheduled. You can do that in person, by phone, or in writing. If the bank wants the order in writing after you phoned, the CFPB says to provide it within 14 days of the oral notice. Banks commonly charge a fee.

Revoking the payment does not cancel what you owe. The CFPB says that if you stop an automatic payment on a loan, you still owe the balance. Tell the bank right away if a payment goes through after you revoked authorization. The dispute window for an unauthorized electronic transfer is on how to dispute a charge in the US. The difference between an ACH debit and a Canadian pre-authorized debit is on ACH debit and pre-authorized debit.

A debit card purchase that has already posted is not a stop payment. A pending hold is not the same as a posted line. See pending and posted charges.

Canada

The CFPB pages above are US rules. They are not a Canada wide expiry. The Canadian bank pages gathered for the fee table do not get a second expiry invented here. Ask the bank how long its stop lasts, and read the fee schedule before you agree to the request.

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada describes cancelling a pre-authorized debit with the biller in writing, and a reimbursement window of 90 calendar days when a debit was not approved. Those steps are written out on the ACH and pre-authorized debit page. A stop payment fee, when the bank prints one, is still the dollar on stop payment fees.

A Canadian dollar account stays in C$. Upload the statement on Expenvo. The PDF stays on your device. Expenvo lists the lines. It does not sign in to the bank or the company, and it does not cancel a membership.

Questions

How long does a US stop payment on a cheque last?

The CFPB says it varies by institution. Most states block the cheque for six months if the request is in writing before the cheque is fully processed. Some stops expire after one year. You can place another stop when the first one ends.

How early do I stop an electronic payment?

The CFPB says to give the bank the stop payment order at least three business days before the payment. If you ordered it by phone and the bank wants it in writing, send that writing within 14 days.

Does stopping the payment cancel the bill?

No. The CFPB says stopping an automatic payment on a loan does not cancel the balance you owe.

Sources

• CFPB: how do I stop payment on a check
• CFPB: stop an electronic debit

Related guides

• Stop payment fees
• ACH and pre-authorized debit
• US bank fees on a statement