Automatic categorization when it shouldn't

reviewalotsky

On transaction download, a renaming rule changes the payee to "e-Transfer", as desired.

Quicken then assigns a category (".Operating:Uncategorized"), which is not desired. I want it to leave the category unassigned / blank.

There is no memorized payee named "e-Transfer". Why does it assign this category and how do I prevent it?

Preferences->Downloaded Transactions has "Automatically categorize transactions" selected and does NOT have "Automatically apply Quicken's suggested name to payee" selected.

This is Quicken H&B Canada 27.1.25.22

Chris_QPW

Deselect Preferences->Downloaded Transactions has "Automatically categorize transactions" this is the one where Quicken guesses.

And make sure that you don't have a memorized payee that matches that payee.

The flow is like this:

If Preferences Downloaded transactions -> Use my existing renaming rules is set, and a renaming rule applies, it is used to change the payee.

If the payee exactly matches a memorized payee (except for case) and the option "Preferences -> Data entry and QuickFill -> recall memorized payees" is set it will use the category in that memorized payee.

If the memorize payee didn't match  (or is turned off) and Preferences->Downloaded Transactions has "Automatically categorize transactions" is set it will make a guess at the category.  But if it is deselected it will leave the category blank.

Chris_QPW

Deselect Preferences->Downloaded Transactions has "Automatically categorize transactions" this is the one where Quicken guesses.

And make sure that you don't have a memorized payee that matches that payee.

The flow is like this:

If Preferences Downloaded transactions -> Use my existing renaming rules is set, and a renaming rule applies, it is used to change the payee.

If the payee exactly matches a memorized payee (except for case) and the option "Preferences -> Data entry and QuickFill -> recall memorized payees" is set it will use the category in that memorized payee.

If the memorize payee didn't match  (or is turned off) and Preferences->Downloaded Transactions has "Automatically categorize transactions" is set it will make a guess at the category.  But if it is deselected it will leave the category blank.

reviewalotsky

Got it, thanks. For some reason I thought that "automatically categorize transactions" meant that it would automatically categorize the transactions based on the payee name.

Chris_QPW

reviewalotsky said:

Got it, thanks. For some reason I thought that "automatically categorize transactions" meant that it would automatically categorize the transactions based on the payee name.

Well it does actually mean that, but you have to understand that there is the "memorized payee" filling in of the category based on the payee (which is a different setting), and the one which is the "catch all" automatic guessing based on the payee if the it gets to this point.  Basically having this setting on for new users is pretty good, but after you have got your memorized payees all setup, it tends to just cause problems.

reviewalotsky

OK so now the payee is "Shoppers Drug Mart0717" and the rule is "if Payee contains 'Shoppersdrugmart' OR if payee contains 'Shoppers Drug'".

It is not changing the payee name. Why not?

Chris_QPW

Well the 'Shoppers Drug' one should certainly be changed.

Are you sure you have this option on:

Edit -> Preferences -> Downloaded transactions -> Use my existing renaming rules