What if a renaming rule isn't working?

How renaming rules work:

When you download transactions from your financial institution, Quicken first compares the downloaded payee name with the renaming rules you've created (to see the list, choose Tools menu > Renaming Rules). If it doesn't find a match there, it then compares the downloaded payee name to its own database of standardized merchant names.

If the downloaded payee name:

•   Matches one of your renaming rules

  If the downloaded payee name matches one of your renaming rules the payee name that you specified in the renaming rule is substituted for the payee name that was downloaded from your financial institution.

  If necessary, you can disable the processing of all renaming rules in your Downloaded Transactions preferences.

•   Does not match one of your renaming rules

  If the downloaded payee name does not match one of your renaming rules, Quicken then compares the downloaded payee name with its own database of standardized merchant names. If it finds a match, the payee name in the database is substituted for the payee name that was downloaded from your financial institution.

  If necessary, you can disable the search of Quicken's database of merchant database in your Downloaded Transactions preferences.

•   Does not match a merchant in Quicken's database of merchant names

  If the downloaded payee matches neither a renaming rule nor a merchant in Quicken's database of merchant names, the downloaded payee name is entered into Quicken exactly as it was received from your financial institution.

Things to try if a renaming rule isn't working:

•   Turn on renaming rule confirmations

  When renaming rule confirmations are turned off, Quicken automatically creates renaming rules without asking you to review them first. In some cases, this can lead to rules that don't work quite right. (To take a look at your current renaming rules, choose Tools menu > Renaming Rules.)

  We recommend that you turn on renaming rule confirmations. This will let you review any renaming rules before they are created and, if necessary, customize them to better suit your needs. Here's how:

  1. Choose Edit menu > Preferences.
  2. In the left pane, select Downloaded transactions.
  3. In the right pane, in the Your Renaming Rules area, select Let me review/confirm the automatically created rules.
  4. Click OK.
•   Delete the existing renaming rules for a payee

  Sometimes it's easier to start over with a renaming rule than it is to try and debug it.

  If you are having trouble with a bothersome renaming rule, here's how to delete it:

  1. Choose Tools menu > Renaming Rules.
  2. In the Renaming Rules dialog, select the rule you want to delete.
  3. Click the Delete icon (the red circle).
•   Disable the search of Quicken's database of merchant names

  If a downloaded payee name does not match one of your renaming rules, Quicken then compares the downloaded payee name with its own database of standardized merchant names.

  While Quicken's database of standardized merchant name is extensive, it is not complete and mismatches can occur. If you are seeing unexplainable payee name substitutions, try turning this feature off. Here's how:

  1. Choose Edit menu > Preferences.
  2. In the left pane, select Downloaded transactions.
  3. In the right pane, in the During Transaction Download area, deselect Automatically clean up payee names.
  4. Click OK.