what is a stop payment on a check 
a stop payment is a formal request made to a financial institution to cancel a check or payment that has not yet been processed a stop payment order is issued by the account holder and can only be enacted if the check or payment has not already been processed by the recipient issuing a stop payment order on a check often costs the bank account holder a fee generally 30 although bank policies differ which is levied by the institution there are several reasons that a stop payment order on a check may be requested for example the account holder may have sent a check for the wrong amount or may have canceled a purchase after having put the check in the mail occasionally if the stop payment is not requested in time and or incorrectly the financial institution will not be able to halt the process to stop payment on a check go to a bank branch or contact the bank by phone and speak to a human being not a recording request a stop payment order make sure to report the check number the amount the recipient s name and the date on the check follow up in writing this will only work if the check has not yet been cleared by the bank if it has cleared you ll need to contact the recipient of the check to seek a resolution 