Overdraft Warnings

Overview

An overdraft warning is a push notification that arrives before a bill does. Once a day, Forbidden Finance looks at the recurring bills due in the next 5 days and checks whether the account that pays each one will still have enough in it on the day the bill lands. If it may not, you get a heads-up while there is still time to move money.

Available on: Starter and above. The warning uses your recurring rules, which start on Starter.

What Triggers a Warning

For each checking and savings account, the check works through the next 5 days in date order:

• It starts from the account's balance. It uses the available balance your bank reports, or the current balance when there is no available figure.
• It adds income that lands before the bill. Recurring income into that account counts only when it is due before the bill's date. Income due on the same day as the bill is not counted, because banks often post the bill first.
• It takes off earlier bills. Other bills paid from the same account earlier in the window are subtracted first.
• It counts a bill that has not cleared yet. A bill still waiting to be matched is counted again, so the check errs toward warning you rather than staying quiet.

If what the account is projected to hold on the bill's due date is less than the bill's expected amount, you get the warning. A missed bill that is still owed counts as a bill too.

The push reads Heads up on an upcoming bill and names the bill, the due date and the account. It never shows an amount or a balance on your lock screen. Open the app to see your figures.

How Often You Hear About It

You get one warning per bill occurrence, the first time it looks short. If a later check finds the account covered (for example, after you moved money in) and then the bill turns short again before its date, you get one more warning. A bill that stays short does not warn you every day.

Which Accounts and Bills Count

• Accounts: your own checking and savings accounts that are not hidden. Credit cards, loans and investment accounts are not checked.
• Bills: your active recurring bills, both detected and the ones you created. Paused rules are left out.
• Only yours: a partner's bills and accounts are not part of your check, even in a shared household.

Bills with no account set

A bill can only be checked against the account that pays it. If a recurring rule has no account, the check skips it. To include it, set the account on the rule:

See Manual Recurring Rules for more on editing a rule.

How to Turn Overdraft Warnings Off

Overdraft warnings follow the Bill reminders push switch.

Overdraft warnings are sent by push only, and they wait for your quiet hours to end. See Notification Settings.

Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did I get a warning when I have money in another account?

The check looks at the account that pays the bill, not your total. If the money is in savings and the bill comes out of checking, you still get the warning. Moving money into the paying account clears it.

Why didn't I get a warning before a bill bounced?

The check only sees your recurring rules and the balances your bank reports. A one-time purchase, a bill with no account set, a bill not detected as recurring yet, or a balance your bank had not updated can all hide a shortfall.

Does a paycheck arriving the same day count?

No. Income counts only when it is due before the bill. Banks often post bills before deposits on the same day, so the check does not rely on it.

Do I get this on the Free plan?

No. Overdraft warnings need recurring rules, which start on Starter.

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