When a person asks her bank not to honor a specific check, what is this action called?

The action of asking a bank not to honor a specific check is known as a stop-payment order. This is a formal request made by the account holder to the bank to prevent the payment of a check that has been issued. There are various reasons a person might request a stop-payment order, such as if the check was lost, stolen, or if there is a dispute regarding the payment involved.

When a stop-payment order is successfully placed, the bank will not process the specified check, thereby protecting the account holder from an unauthorized transaction. It’s important to note that this order is typically time-sensitive and may require the account holder to fulfill specific conditions set by the bank, including potential fees.

Other terms such as check cancellation do not accurately reflect the process of formally instructing the bank not to pay a check. An account freeze is a more severe action often related to legal issues or concerns about fraud, while fund retention implies withholding funds without the same specific instructions that a stop-payment order indicates. Thus, the term stop-payment order provides the clearest and most accurate description of the action taken in this scenario.