# Cheque register — cleared and bounced fee cheques

> Track every fee cheque and DD in Pathshala, mark it cleared or bounced, and let a bounce reopen the bill by itself.

Source: https://pathshala.mjxtechnologies.com/docs/fees/cheques/

The **Cheques** screen in Pathshala lists every cheque and demand draft you have taken for fees. A cheque counts as a payment as soon as it is recorded, so the family gets a receipt — and when the bank answers, you mark it **Cleared** or **Bounced**. A bounce reopens the bill by itself.

> [!PATH] Apps › Fees › Cheques

![Cheques screen with the Cleared and Bounced buttons on a cheque marked](media/fees/cheques-1.jpg "Apps › Fees › Cheques")

## Who can use this?

| Action | Who |
|---|---|
| See the register | Owner, Admin, or staff with **Manage Cheques** (Accountant) |
| Mark Cleared or Bounced | Owner, Admin, or a role given the cheque-settling permission |

The cheque register is in **MJX Fees Management Basic** and above.

## How a cheque enters the register

Record the payment as usual ([Collect a fee](fees/collect-a-fee)), choose a **Cheque** method and fill in **Cheque Number**, **Cheque Date** and **Bank Name**. The test is the cheque number: a DD recorded under a bank method with its number typed in the cheque field also joins the register.

## What the screen shows

Three tiles, which also act as tabs:

| Tile | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **In hand** | Cheques the bank has not answered yet — amount and count |
| **Cleared** | Cheques honoured |
| **Bounced** | Cheques refused |

Below, use **Search** (student name, cheque number, bank), the **Class** filter and **Show** (*In hand*, *Cleared*, *Bounced*, *All cheques*).

Each card shows the student, admission number and class, the amount, the invoice, the **Cheque** number, the date it is **Dated** (with *n d old* when an in-hand cheque is over 30 days old), the **Bank**, and once answered the date and who recorded it.

## How to mark a cheque cleared

### Steps

1. Find the cheque under **In hand**.
2. Press [[Cleared]].
3. Check the **Date the bank answered** (today by default; it cannot be in the future). A **Note** is optional.
4. Press [[Mark cleared]].

## How to record a bounced cheque

### Steps

1. Find the cheque and press [[Bounced]].
2. Set the **Date the bank answered**.
3. Type the reason in **Note** (required), for example *Insufficient funds* or *Signature mismatch*.
4. Press [[Record bounce]].

> [!SUCCESS]
> A message says the bounce is recorded and the invoice is reopened. The payment's status becomes **Cheque bounced**, the amount is back on the invoice balance, and it is no longer counted in your collection.

> [!NOTE]
> If you marked a cheque by mistake, you can press the other button — **Cleared** on a bounced cheque, or **Bounced** on a cleared one. A payment that was already cancelled or refunded cannot be given a cheque outcome.

## Tips

- Look at **In hand** every week; anything over 30 days old is marked.
- When a cheque bounces, ask the family for a new payment and record it against the reopened invoice. Do not cancel the bounced payment — the bounce already reopened the bill.
- In Tally, cheques are posted to **Cheques Received** until you choose otherwise; see [Day-book and Tally](fees/day-book-and-tally).

## Questions people ask

### How does a cheque get into the register?

Any payment recorded with a cheque number joins it. Choose your Cheque method and type the cheque number, date and bank when you record the payment.

### What happens when a cheque bounces?

Mark it Bounced with the date and a reason. The amount goes back onto what the family owes, the invoice opens again, and the money leaves your collection totals.

### Is a bounce charge added?

No. Pathshala does not add a bounce charge by itself. If you charge one, add it to the family's next bill.

### Who can mark a cheque cleared or bounced?

The owner or an admin, or a staff role given that permission. Others can see the register but not change it.