Accounts Payable Troubleshooting Guide

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Accounts Payable Troubleshooting Guide

Even with a well-organized Accounts Payable workflow, problems can occur that require special handling. This section outlines the most common issues, their likely causes, and the recommended methods for resolving them.

👉 Use this guide whenever something “doesn’t look right.”


1. A Vendor Needs Immediate Payment

Symptoms

A vendor must be paid outside the normal payment cycle

Emergency or special handling is required


Cause

Payments are normally processed by payment cycle.


Fix

Method 1 — Temporary Payment Cycle

1.Open Edit

2.Locate the vendor account

3.Change the Payment Cycle to a temporary code (example: X)

4.Run Write Checks using cycle X

5.Process the payment

6.Restore the original cycle


Method 2 — Manual Payment Posting

1.Open Post Transactions

2.Enter the Payment amount

3.Apply payment to invoices

4.Process and print the check


Tip

If a vendor frequently requires special payment handling:

Assign a dedicated payment cycle permanently


2. Accounts Payable Totals Don’t Match the General Ledger

Symptoms

A/P summary does not match the A/P liability account

Totals appear incorrect


Likely Cause

Transactions exist that:

Are not tied to active accounts

Do not have valid payment cycles

Were never closed properly


Fix

1.Run Summary of A/P Transactions

Use a wide date range:

o01/01/1980 – 12/31/2099

2.Look for:

oMissing payment cycles

oExtremely old transactions

oAccounts not closed

3.Assign proper payment cycles

4.Re-run balances

5.Process payments if necessary

6.Close the payment cycle


If the Problem Persists

Run dSalvage on:

aaptrn.dbf

This often corrects:

File contamination

Stray end-of-file markers


3. A Vendor Credit Needs to Be Applied

Symptoms

Vendor issued a credit memo

An overcharge must be reversed


Fix

Enter a negative charge in the posting routine.

MLS 2026 will automatically:

Reduce the payable balance

Adjust the General Ledger properly


Best Practice

Always include:

Vendor credit memo number

Explanation in Notes


4. A Posting Error Was Made

Symptoms

Wrong amount entered

Wrong G/L account used

Incorrect invoice reference

Incorrect date


Correction Logic

Were payments already applied?
        │
        ├── NO → Reverse original entry
        │         (negative transaction)
        │         then re-enter correctly
        │
        └── YES → Post the difference only


Standard Correction Method

1.Enter a reversal transaction:

oSame information

oAll amounts negative

2.Enter the correct replacement transaction


5. A Vendor Invoice Is Missing from A/P

Symptoms

Vendor statement shows invoice not in system

Balance appears lower than expected


Likely Causes

Invoice never entered

Wrong vendor selected

Posting not processed


Fix

1.Compare vendor statement to:

oWorksheet

oTransaction report

2.Enter missing invoice manually

3.Verify G/L accounts

4.Save and process the entry


6. Duplicate Invoice Was Entered

Symptoms

Vendor balance appears too high

Same invoice number appears twice


Fix

Enter a reversing transaction:

Same invoice reference

Negative amount

Then verify:

Correct remaining balance

Correct aging totals


Best Practice

Always enter the vendor invoice number in Notes to help prevent duplicates.


7. Checks Printed Incorrectly or Jammed

Symptoms

Printer jam

Misaligned checks

Incorrect printing


Fix

When prompted by MLS 2026:

Indicate checks did NOT print correctly

The system allows:

Reprinting checks

Reprocessing the print run


Important Reminder

⚠️ Verify printed checks before finalizing processing.

Once accounting entries are finalized, corrections become more complicated.


8. Overdue Vendor Balances Are Increasing

Symptoms

Growing overdue balances

Vendors requesting payment

Credit restrictions beginning


Fix

Review overdue reports weekly

Contact vendors proactively

Document all communication in Notes

Prioritize critical suppliers

Review cash flow planning


Important Principle

Vendors are usually more cooperative when:

Communication is prompt

Commitments are honored

Problems are addressed early


9. Payment Posted to Wrong Vendor

Symptoms

Wrong vendor shows payment

Correct vendor still unpaid


Fix

1.Reverse the incorrect payment entry

2.Re-enter payment under correct vendor

3.Verify invoice application carefully before processing


10. Payment Cycle Was Not Closed

Symptoms

Old paid invoices still appear active

Aging appears incorrect

Worksheets become cluttered


Fix

1.Run Period Close for the affected cycle

2.Use the same:

oPayment cycle

oClosing date

used during payment processing

3.Verify balances after closing


11. Vendor Statement Does Not Match MLS 2026

Symptoms

Vendor claims different balance

Missing or extra invoices appear


Fix

1.Run:

oIndividual Vendor Report

oWorksheet for the cycle

2.Compare:

oDates

oInvoice numbers

oPayment amounts

3.Identify:

oMissing entries

oDuplicate postings

oTiming differences

4.Document findings in Notes


12. Spread G/L Totals Will Not Process

Symptoms

Spread G/L entry rejected

Transaction will not save


Cause

The distributed G/L amounts do not equal the Charge total.


Fix

Verify:

Total of all Debit distributions

equals

Charge amount entered on the posting screen

The transaction will process only when balanced.


Best Practices

Post invoices promptly

Process payment cycles consistently

Close periods regularly

Review aging weekly

Document vendor communication carefully

Verify checks before final processingEnter topic text here.