Check by phone gives you the ability to take electronic check payments by telephone. Check by phone is a convenient payment option which enhances customer satisfaction, increases cash flow, and reduces operating expenses.

How Does Check by Phone Work?

When a customer calls, accepting a check by phone is easy. Using a virtual terminal, you enter the customer’s information, including routing and account number. An electronic check transaction is then created. An email receipt of the electronic check transaction is sent to the customer.

Check by phone electronic transactions are processed either through the ACH payment network or by Check 21 bank-to-bank image clearing technology. Payments are quickly cleared and monies settled to your business bank account. Full online reporting tracks all transactions and provides valuable management tools.

Advantages of Check by Phone

• Last Minute Payments. Check by phone provides your customers a way to make last minute payments and avoid late fees. You can add a “convenience fee” for check by phone transactions to cover payment processing fees and create an additional income stream for your company.


• Shorten Collection Times. If you collect overdue accounts receivables, ask customers to give you a check by phone. Get rid of excuses such as “the check is in the mail.”


• Capture More Sales. Some customers prefer to call a company to order goods or services rather than purchasing online. Offering check by phone captures sales from customers who do not have a credit card or simply prefer to pay by electronic check.


• Satisfy More Customers. Check by phone can be used to accept payments from savings, checking, personal or corporate accounts. Over 90% of all US households can pay with check by phone.


• Multi-Channel Payment Processing. All check by phone accounts includes the ability for you to accept checks online. Your customers can pay through your website or you can take an electronic check by telephone.

Case Studies

• Internet Retailer. Consumers frequently call customer service to get more information on products. The representatives complete the order and take payment by telephone rather than referring consumers back to the website. Customers can pay by check by phone or by credit cards, and 15% of customers chose check by phone. Additionally, if a credit card is declined, buyers are offered the alternative of paying with check by phone.


• Utility Company. Many people wait until the last possible minute to pay a utility bill. The company offered check by phone to compliment its online payment site. Customers paying by check by phone can either talk to a live representative or use an automated voice response system (IVR). A small convenience fee is added to the transaction which covers payment processing fees and creates an additional income stream for the company.


• Direct Marketing Firm. The company sells a variety of products through infomercials on late night television. Customers call a toll-free number to order. The firm added a check by phone payment option because many callers asked for an alternative to credit card payments. About 20% of callers now purchase with check by phone.