IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
RE: POLICY TO REFUND ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS
GENERAL ORDER NO. 45
Pursuant to the Guide to Judiciary Policy, Volume 4, Chapter 6 § 650, the Court hereby
delegates limited refund authority to the Clerk of Court, or designee, for the refund of fees that are
erroneously paid using the Department of Treasury, Financial Management Service's Pay.gov
electronic payment system. Such refunds are authorized and will be processed pursuant to the
following guidelines:
1. Duplicate payments, i.e., those where the payor has inadvertently paid the fee more
than once in the same case, resulting in two or more identical credit card or
Automated Clearing House System (ACH) charges; or
2. Erroneous payments, i.e., those where the payor has inadvertently paid a fee in the
wrong case; or when a fee is paid and no fee was due.
The Clerk, or designee, may void an erroneous credit card or Automated Clearing House
System (ACH) payment, if performed on the same date as the original transaction, prior to settlement
of the charges.
In all other instances, a payor seeking a refund must file a motion or application, requesting
the refund. Upon verification of the error, the Clerk, or designee, will enter an order granting,
denying or referring the request to the presiding judge.
If the refund is denied, the payor may, within seven (7) days of the denial, file a motion or
application to review the denial. The motion or application will be referred to the presiding judge.
Refunds for credit card payments will be processed through Pay.gov and the electronic credit
card system corresponding to the credit card that was originally charged. Refund checks will not be
issued for credit card refunds. The Clerk will issue aU. S. Treasury Check only if the payor's credit
card is no longer valid.
Automated Clearing House System (ACH) payments cannot be refunded electronically.
Automated Clearing House (ACH) refunds will be made by issuing aU. S. Treasury Check.
If an attorney or law firm makes repeated mistakes when submitting fees electronically and
requesting refunds, the court will consider remedial action, such as issuing an order to show cause
why further requests for refunds should be considered.
ORDERED this 17th day of September 2014.
P.l<. ~
US DISTRICT ..~<1-lJ!-JsAS
. • I I
HONORABLE. P. K. 1F{OLMES, Ill
WESTERN~~ CHIEF UNITED.ST•ATES DISTRICT JUDGE
SEP 17 20\4
CHRIS R. JOHNSON, Clerk
By
DepUtY Oerlc.
