R71 ACH Return Code: Misrouted Dishonored Return

What Causes ACH Return Code R71?

The R71 ACH return code means "Misrouted Dishonored Return" and indicates that the ODFI made a routing error when preparing a dishonored return entry. This occurs when the originating bank enters the incorrect routing number in the receiving DFI identification field, causing the dishonored return to be sent to the wrong financial institution instead of its intended destination.

R71 is classified as a dishonored return code that represents an administrative error made by the ODFI during the return processing workflow. This routing mistake prevents the dishonored return from reaching the correct bank, creating delays and requiring manual intervention to redirect the transaction to the proper financial institution.

Can You Retry R71 Payments?

You cannot retry R71 payments until the ODFI corrects the routing error and resubmits the dishonored return to the correct financial institution. Since this is a misdirection issue caused by incorrect routing information, resolution requires the ODFI to identify the correct routing number and reprocess the dishonored return properly.

How to respond

An R71 return indicates the ODFI made a routing error when preparing the dishonored return, requiring immediate contact with the originating bank to correct the routing information and resubmit to the proper destination.

When receiving payments

Contact the ODFI Immediately Reach out to the originating bank's ACH operations department to report the routing error.
Request Routing Correction Ask them to verify and correct the routing number in the receiving DFI identification field.
Provide Correct Information Supply the accurate routing number if you have verified banking information available.
Monitor Reprocessing Track the corrected dishonored return to ensure it reaches the intended financial institution.

When sending payments

An R71 return on vendor payments indicates that your bank made a routing error when preparing the dishonored return, sending it to the wrong financial institution and requiring correction with the proper routing information.

Contact your bank's ACH operations team to report the routing error immediately
Request they verify and correct the routing number in the DFI identification field
Communicate with the vendor about the bank routing error causing the processing delay
Monitor the reprocessing to ensure the corrected return reaches the vendor's bank properly

Email template

From: [Your Company Name] <[your-email]>
To: [Customer Name] <[customer-email]>
Subject: Payment Routing Error - Bank Correction Required

Hi [Customer Name],

We've encountered a routing error with your recent payment return where our bank sent the dishonored return to the wrong financial institution due to an incorrect routing number.

Our team has contacted the bank's ACH operations department to correct the routing information and resubmit the return to the proper destination. This is a straightforward administrative correction that typically resolves quickly.

We expect the routing error to be corrected and the return reprocessed within 2-3 business days. We'll contact you immediately once the corrected return has been successfully sent to the right bank.

Thank you for your patience,

[Your Company Name]