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HomeCommercial CodeDiv. 3Ch. 4§ 3418 Recovery For Mistaken Payment

§ 3418 Recovery For Mistaken Payment

Commercial Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 3418 Recovery For Mistaken Payment

Key Takeaways

  • •If a bank pays a check by mistake (like if they thought the check was real but it wasn't), they can get the money back from the person who got paid.
  • •The bank can also cancel the payment if they accepted the check by mistake.
  • •But if the person who got the money spent it or used it in good faith (like they didn't know it was a mistake), the bank can't take it back.
  • •If the bank gets the money back, it's like the check was never paid, and the person who got the money can try to get paid the right way.

Example

You deposit a check from your friend, but your friend's bank made a mistake and paid it even though your friend didn't have enough money. The bank later realizes the mistake.

The bank can take the money back from your account because they paid by mistake. But if you already spent that money on groceries (and didn't know it was a mistake), the bank might not be able to take it back.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 3418 Recovery For Mistaken Payment

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), if the drawee of a draft pays or accepts the draft and the drawee acted on the mistaken belief that (1) payment of the draft had not been stopped pursuant to Section 4403 or (2) the signature of the drawer of the draft was authorized, the drawee may recover the amount of the draft from the person to whom or for whose benefit payment was made or, in the case of acceptance, may revoke the acceptance. Rights of the drawee under this subdivision are not affected by failure of the drawee to exercise ordinary care in paying or accepting the draft. (b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), if an instrument has been paid or accepted by mistake and the case is not covered by subdivision (a), the person paying or accepting may, to the extent permitted by the law governing mistake and restitution, (1) recover the payment from the person to whom or for whose benefit payment was made or (2) in the case of acceptance, may revoke the acceptance. (c) The remedies provided by subdivision (a) or (b) may not be asserted against a person who took the instrument in good faith and for value or who in good faith changed position in reliance on the payment or acceptance. This subdivision does not limit remedies provided by Section 3417 or 4407. (d) Notwithstanding Section 4215, if an instrument is paid or accepted by mistake and the payor or acceptor recovers payment or revokes acceptance under subdivision (a) or (b), the instrument is deemed not to have been paid or accepted and is treated as dishonored, and the person from whom payment is recovered has rights as a person entitled to enforce the dishonored instrument. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 914, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1993.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

draweedraftmistaken beliefpayment stoppageunauthorized signaturegood faithdishonored

Related Statutes

  • § 3403 Unauthorized Signature Effectiveness
  • § 3408 Check Not Funds Assignment
  • § 3410 Draft Acceptance Terms
  • § 3414 Drawer Obligation Dishonored Draft
  • § 3417 Draft Transferor Warranties

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Commercial Code. Section 3418.
View Official Source