System and Method for Processing Duplicative Electronic Check Return Files

Abstract

Processing duplicate items in image cash letter (“ICL”) return files for efficient handling. A duplicate item processing module can receive ICL return files comprising items representing duplicate electronic checks. The duplicate item processing module can determine whether the processing entity erroneously presented the item more than once. The duplicate item processing module can also determine whether the depositing institution erroneously deposited the item more than once for processing. Based on the determination of the source of the error, the duplicate item processing module can make a correction in its own records and/or forward the ICL return file with the duplicate item to the depositing institution.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented method for processing duplicate electronic checks, comprising the steps of:
 receiving, at a duplicate item processing module installed on a check processing computing device hosted by a check processor, a return electronic image cash letter (“EICL”) file comprising a duplicate item from a receiving institution computing device hosted by a first receiving institution of a plurality of receiving institutions configured to send one or more return EICLs to the check processor;   comparing, with the duplicate item processing module, the duplicate item to a record of items the check processing computing device previously received from a plurality of depositing institutions and presented for payment to the receiving institution computing device, each of the items in the record of items comprising a depositing institution routing number, a transaction amount, a date the item was received at the check processor from one of the plurality of depositing institutions and a date the item was presented to one of the plurality of receiving institutions;   if the duplicate item matches more than one item in the record of items the check processing computing device previously presented for payment to the receiving institution computing device, the duplicate item processing module suspending the return electronic image cash letter file for further analysis; and   if the duplicate item does not match more than one item in the record of items the check processing computing device previously presented for payment to the receiving institution computing device, the duplicate item processing module forwarding the return electronic image cash letter file to a depositing institution computing device hosted by one of the plurality of depositing institutions for further processing.   
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of the duplicate item processing module suspending the return electronic image cash letter file for further analysis comprises comparing the duplicate item to a record of items the depositing institution computing device previously deposited with the check processing computing device for processing. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising the steps of:
 if the duplicate item matches more than one item in the record of items the depositing institution computing device previously deposited with the check processing computing device for processing, forwarding the return electronic image cash letter file to the depositing institution computing device for further processing; or   if the duplicate item does not match more than one item in the record of items the depositing institution computing device previously deposited with the check processing computing device for processing, continue suspending the return electronic image cash letter file for further analysis.   
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the return electronic image cash letter file includes a designation indicating that it comprises at least one duplicate item. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of the check processing computing device notifying the receiving institution computing device of the disposition of the return electronic image cash letter file. 
     
     
         25 . A computer-implemented method for processing duplicate electronic checks, comprising the steps of:
 receiving, at a duplicate item processing module installed on a check processing computing device hosted by a check processor, a return electronic image cash letter (“EICL”) file comprising a duplicate item from a receiving institution computing device hosted by a first receiving institution of a plurality of receiving institutions configured to send one or more return EICLs to the check processor;   comparing, with the duplicate item processing module, the duplicate item to a record of items the check processing computing device previously received from a first of a plurality of depositing institution computing devices, each of the items in the record of items comprising a depositing institution routing number, a transaction amount, and a date the item was received at the check processor from the first of the plurality of depositing institution computing devices;   if the duplicate item matches more than one item in the record of items the check processing computing device received from the first of the plurality of depositing institution computing devices, the duplicate item processing module forwarding the return electronic image cash letter file to the first of the plurality of depositing institution computing devices; and   if the duplicate item does not match more than one item in the record of items, the duplicate item processing module suspending the return electronic image cash letter file for further analysis.   
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 25 , wherein the return EICL file includes a designation indicating that it comprises at least one duplicate item. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of the check processing computing device notifying the receiving institution computing device of the disposition of the return electronic image cash letter file. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of, after completing the further analysis, the duplicate item processing module forwarding the return EICL file to the first of the plurality of depositing institution computing devices. 
     
     
         29 . A computer-implemented method for processing duplicate electronic checks, comprising the steps of:
 receiving, at a duplicate item processing module installed on a check processing computing device hosted by a check processor, a return electronic image cash letter (“EICL”) file comprising a duplicate item from a receiving institution computing device hosted by a first receiving institution of a plurality of receiving institutions configured to send one or more return EICLs to the check processor;   comparing, with the duplicate item processing module, the duplicate item to a record of items the check processing computing device previously presented for payment to the receiving institution computing device, each of the items in the record of items comprising a depositing institution routing number, a transaction amount, a date the item was received at the check processor from one of a plurality of depositing institutions and a date the item was presented to one of the plurality of receiving institutions;   if the duplicate item does not match more than one item in the record of items the check processing computing device previously presented for payment to the receiving institution computing device, the duplicate item processing module forwarding the return electronic image cash letter file to a depositing institution computing device associated with one of the plurality of depositing institutions;   if the duplicate item matches more than one item in the record of items the check processing computing device previously presented for payment to the receiving institution computing device, the duplicate item processing module comparing the duplicate item to a record of items the depositing institution computing device previously deposited with the check processing computing device for processing;
 if the duplicate item matches more than one item in the record of items the depositing institution computing device previously deposited with the check processing computing device for processing, forwarding the return EICL file to the depositing institution computing device; and 
 if the duplicate item does not match more than one item in the record of items the depositing institution computing device previously deposited with the check processing computing device for processing, suspending the return electronic EICL file for further analysis. 
   
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of suspending the return electronic image cash letter file for further analysis comprises the steps of:
 the check processing computing device terminating the return EICL file and adjusting a settlement record for the duplicate item.   
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29 , wherein the return EICL file includes a designation indicating that it comprises at least one duplicate item. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of the check processing computing device notifying the receiving institution computing device of the disposition of the return EICL file. 
     
     
         33 . A computer-implemented system for processing duplicate electronic checks, comprising:
 a check processing computing device hosted by a check processor and operable for processing items in an electronic image cash letter (“EICL”) file for payment or presentment to a receiving institution computing device hosted by one of a plurality of receiving institutions configured to communicate EICL files with the check processing computing device, the check processing computing device comprising a first database of records of items previously presented to the receiving institution computing device and a second database of records of items previously deposited with the check processing computing device for processing from a depositing institution computing device hosted by one of a plurality of depositing institutions configured to communicate EICL files with the check processing computing device, wherein the first database of records of items comprises a depositing institution routing number, a transaction amount, and a date the item was presented to one of the plurality of receiving institutions;   a duplicate item processing module installed on the check processing computing device, the duplicate item processing module operable for receiving from the receiving institution computing device a return EICL file comprising a duplicate item and for comparing the duplicate item to the first database of records of items the check processing computing device previously presented to the receiving institution computing device and the second database of records of items the depositing institution computing device previously deposited with the check processing computing device for processing.   
     
     
         34 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 33 , wherein the duplicate item processing module is further operable for transmitting the return EICL file comprising the duplicate item to the depositing institution computing device when the duplicate item matches more than one item in the second database of records of items the depositing institution computing device previously deposited with the check processing computing device for processing.