Check 21 Duplicate Notification Service Frequently Asked Questions
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General Questions
- Is the Check 21 Duplicate Notification Service available to all check processing organizations?
- How can my organization subscribe to FedMail?
- My financial institution already subscribes to FedMail. What do I need to do to use the service?
- Is there a separate fee for originators and receivers?
- Are there any restrictions on the service?
Sending a Notification
- What is the process for submitting information if my financial institution creates a duplicate situation?
- As a depositing institution (sender), what kind of notification will be provided indicating that the FedMail Service has received my request to distribute a notification to the affected ABAs?
- Is the information put into the template verified to be sure it is valid?
- Will my financial institution be informed regarding the status of the message distribution to paying institutions (receivers)?
- Are there any special terms or conditions placed on the depositing institution (sender) when creating a notification?
- Will all ABAs involved in a duplicate item event be informed?
- As a depositing institution (sender), will I know who receives the notification?
Receiving a Notification
- Can a paying institution (receiver) use the Check 21 Duplicate Notification Service if a shared mailbox is used for email delivery?
- Will notifications be consolidated for multiple routing numbers?
- Will paying institutions (receivers) be able to respond to the originator via the email Check 21 Duplicate Items Notification Service?
- As a receiver, what kind of information can I expect to receive regarding a duplicate file event?
- Where can additional information be found?
General Questions
Q: Is the Check 21 Duplicate Notification Service available to all check processing organizations?
A: The service, which leverages the Federal Reserve Banks’ FedMail access solution, enables industry-wide communication capability allowing organizations subscribing to FedMail to provide timely notice and contact information about duplicate file events to other FedMail subscribers.
Q: How can my organization subscribe to FedMail?
A: Financial institutions may enroll in FedMail by using the FedMail Service sign-up process.
Q: My financial institution already subscribes to FedMail. What do I need to do to use the service?
A: If your financial institutions already subscribes to FedMail Check Adjustments and/or Check 21 Acknowledgements, you may begin to send or receive notification regarding duplicate events immediately. The notification will be sent using the same method you receive FedMail notifications today (email or fax).
However, if you only use FedMail for a non-priced service, you will be required to opt out of the Check 21 Duplicate Notification Service or you will begin to be charged the $20/month fee to access FedMail. Direct communication will be provided to your financial institution explaining details.
Q: Is there a separate fee for originators and receivers?
A: No. The $20/monthly fee enables all currently priced FedMail Check subscribers to send and receive notifications regarding duplicate item events.
Q: Are there any restrictions on the service?
A: The Image Industry Interoperability Group (i3G) recommends the service be used for duplicate events that involve 50 items or more.
Sending a Notification
Q: What is the process for submitting information if my financial institution creates a duplicate situation?
A: As a depositing institution (sender) that created the Check 21 duplicate situation, you can easily notify impacted paying institutions (receivers) that a duplicate event has occurred. First, access the Check 21 Duplicate Notification Service. A spreadsheet template is available so you can input the paying institutions’ (receivers’) ABAs, number of items and dollar amounts; this spreadsheet is required to complete your request.
Q: As a depositing institution (sender), what kind of notification will be provided indicating that the FedMail Service has received my request to distribute a notification to the affected ABAs?
A: You will receive a file receipt confirmation number and information about your next steps in the notification process.
Q: Is the information put into the template verified to be sure it is valid?
A: An error report will be generated indicating which lines of the spreadsheet contain invalid ABA numbers as shown below. However, no further validation is performed by the Reserve Banks.
Q: Will my financial institution be informed regarding the status of the message distribution to paying institutions (receivers)?
A: There will not be any information provided as to which ABAs were reached in the distribution.
Q: Are there any special terms or conditions placed on the depositing institution (sender) when creating a notification?
A: The depositing institution (sender) must indicate acceptance of service terms and conditions in order to originate a message.
Q: Will all ABAs involved in a duplicate item event be informed?
A: No. Only institutions that subscribe to FedMail Check Adjustments and/or Check 21 Acknowledgements will receive notification that provide the information. Hence, not all affected ABAs will receive the communication, unless all of them are subscribers to the service.
Q: As a depositing institution (sender), will I know who receives the notification?
A: No. There is not a return receipt indicating which paying institutions (receivers) received the email notification.
Receiving a Notification
Q: Can a paying institution (receiver) use the Check 21 Duplicate Notification Service if a shared mailbox is used for email delivery?
A: Yes.
Q: Will notifications be consolidated for multiple routing numbers?
A: No. Paying institutions (receivers) will be sent a notification to the FedMail addresses that the Federal Reserve Bank has on file. Notifications via email will not be consolidated for multiple routing numbers.
Q: Will paying institutions (receivers) be able to respond to the originator via the email Check 21 Duplicate Items Notification Service?
A: The service is intended to provide basic information to financial institutions affected by the duplicate file event so that follow-up communications can take place between affected users. The originator’s contact information will be contained within the notification in the event a receiver requires additional information.
Q: As a receiver, what kind of information can I expect to receive regarding a duplicate file event?
A: A message will be sent using the address on file in the FedMail system for Check Adjustments and/or Check 21 Acknowledgement subscribers. The notification will come from fmdcn09@fedmail.mlps.frb.org with basic information provided by the originator of a duplicate file event, including the originator’s contact information.
If additional individuals at your institution need the ability to send and/or receive duplicate notifications, please complete the FedMail Service Request Form .
Q: Where can additional information be found?
A: For more information about the Check 21 Duplicate Notification Service, please visit the online resource center.
Please contact the Customer Contact Center (CCC) at CCC.CK21.dup.notification@kc.frb.org. Please be sure to provide your name, ABA, phone number and institution name.