Downloaded bank data-check entries all come thru with same payee n

I download my banking details every couple of months or so into my Microsoft
Money (2004 version). It downloads all ATM, POS, electronic payments as well
as all checks I've written. I'm having a problem with downloaded check
entries. Each check entry comes through with the correct check #, date, and
check amount - but all check payees come through with the same payee. For
example-this last download listed all the checks I've written for the past
three months with "American Express" as the payee. The last time I
downloaded, it listed all check payees as "Joe Smith". The payees are valid
payees that I've written checks to before, so it's not making them up. But I
can't figure out why all the check data entries keep coming through with the
same payee. This forces me to have to refer to my handwritten checkbook
register for the correct payee, and correct each downloaded check entry which
is a pain. I've searched around the program to see if some sort of setting
is not right -but can't find anything that fits. Any ideas?

Cal
Sun Jul 06 19:54:34 CDT 2008

In microsoft.public.money, Christy in San Diego <Christy in San
Diego@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I download my banking details every couple of months or so into my Microsoft
>Money (2004 version). It downloads all ATM, POS, electronic payments as well
>as all checks I've written. I'm having a problem with downloaded check
>entries. Each check entry comes through with the correct check #, date, and
>check amount - but all check payees come through with the same payee. For
>example-this last download listed all the checks I've written for the past
>three months with "American Express" as the payee. The last time I
>downloaded, it listed all check payees as "Joe Smith". The payees are valid
>payees that I've written checks to before, so it's not making them up. But I
>can't figure out why all the check data entries keep coming through with the
>same payee. This forces me to have to refer to my handwritten checkbook
>register for the correct payee, and correct each downloaded check entry which
>is a pain. I've searched around the program to see if some sort of setting
>is not right -but can't find anything that fits. Any ideas?

Go to
Accounts&Bills->Categories&Payees->Payees->PreferredPayeeNames
which shows how downloaded names are translated into Payees.
Record the Payee Name Variation(s) shown for American Express.
Delete the entries that are not necessarily American Express.

Then click on GoToPayeeRulesManager. Excluded Payee Names
identifies words and phrases that should be ignored from the payee
field (e.g., check, deposit). Add each word or phrase that was
listed as a Payee Name Variation that you recorded.

While you are at it, it is usually a good idea to select
Tools->Options->OnlineServices->ReplacePayeeNames....

You may want to set
Tools->Options->OnlineServices->AddADescriptionToTheMemoField