Fixing Mistakes

How do I fix a mistake that I discover when reconciling?

When you are reconciling your checkbook and discover an error, you can either change the original transaction, or enter an offsetting transaction.

You will need to enter an offsetting transaction in any of these cases:

  • The Transaction has been billed as part of a Time & Materials project
  • The wrong amount was actually paid and cashed
  • You don't have password access that lets you delete records
  • You want to have a record of the error correction

In any of those cases, click the offset transaction link. Otherwise, you can follow the instructions below.

Finding the Transaction Paid

Most bank transactions pay for a Material Purchase or some other expense transaction.

Before you fix the error, follow these steps to locate the transaction that was paid incorrectly (since you'll also need to fix the error there):

  1. Locate the bank transaction that has the problem.
  2. Choose Detail Transaction from the View menu. NOTE-- if the Detail Transaction command is grayed out, there is no original transaction.
  3. Goldenseal will open the original transaction that was paid. You'll be coming back to it later to fix the original error, so leave the window open.

Clearing the Incorrect Bank Transaction

To fix an incorrect entry, you'll first need to clear out the incorrect bank transaction. Go back to the bank transaction window to do that.

  • If it is a bank check, change the Status popup field to Void, then hit the Enter key to save the record.
  • If it is a bank payment or deposit, choose Delete Record from the Edit menu to remove it completely.
  • If it is a transfer in or transfer out, you'll need to delete the original half of the transfer. If the Status field of this transfer says Auto Transfer, choose Detail Transaction from the View menu, and Goldenseal will show you the original part of the transfer, so you can delete it.

Fixing the Original Transaction

After you delete or void the payment transaction, Goldenseal will change the status of the original invoice back to Entered. That way you can change it.

Follow these steps to fix the original error, when it was paid by check:

  1. Open the original transaction that was paid incorrectly.
  2. Type in the correct amount.
  3. Go back to the bank check that you voided in the previous section.
  4. Type in the correct amount.
  5. Change the check's status back to Entered.
  6. Hit the Enter key to save the record. Goldenseal will automatically mark the invoice as paid, again.

Follow these steps to fix the original error, when it was paid by cash, credit card or debit card:

  1. Open the original transaction that was paid incorrectly.
  2. Type in the correct amount.
  3. Change the Payment Method popup field to Credit Card (or however else it was paid).
  4. Enter a bank account for the payment.
  5. Hit the Enter key to save the record. Goldenseal will automatically create a new payment transaction for the correct amount.

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