SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                         Washington, D.C.  20549


                                FORM 8-A


                             CURRENT REPORT

            FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                 PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                     SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



                      ELECTRONIC CLEARING HOUSE, INC.                    
 
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



  NEVADA                                                  93-0946274     
  
(State or other jurisdiction                          (IRS Employer
 of incorporation)                                     Identification No.)



  28001 Dorothy Drive,    Agoura Hills, California            91301      
      (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)



Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


                                 none                                    
   


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:


                      Preferred Stock Purchase Rights                    
    

ITEM 1.   DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED


               On September 30, 1996, the Board of Directors of Electronic
          Clearing House, Inc. ("Company") declared a dividend of one
          preferred share purchase right ("Right") for each outstanding
          share of common stock, par value of $0.01 ("Common Stock"), of
          the Company.  The dividend is payable on September 30, 1996
          ("Record date") to the stockholders of record on that date.  Each
          Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company
          one one-hundredth of a share of series A Junior Participating
          Preferred Stock, no par value ("Preferred Stock"), of the Company
          at a price of $0.50 per one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred
          Stock ("Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment.  The description
          and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated
          as of September 30, 1996 ("Rights Agreement") between the Company
          and Oxford Transfer & Registrar, as Rights agent ("Rights
          Agent").

          Initially, the Rights will be attached to all certificates
          representing Common Stock then outstanding, regardless of whether
          any such certificates have a copy of this Summary of Rights
          attached thereto, and no separate Rights Certificates will be
          distributed.  The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and
          a Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days
          following a public announcement that, without the prior consent
          of the Board of Directors, a person or group of affiliated or
          associated persons ("Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial
          ownership of twenty-percent (20%) or more of the outstanding
          Common Stock ("Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business days
          (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board
          of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an
          Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement
          of an intention to make a tender offer or exchange offer the
          consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership
          by a person or group of twenty-percent (20%) or more of such
          outstanding Common Stock.

          The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date,
          the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common
          Stock.  Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
          expiration of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued
          after the Record Date, upon transfer or new issuance of Common
          Stock, will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement
          by reference.  Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption
          or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any
          certificate for Common Stock, outstanding as of the Record Date,
          even without such notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights
          being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the
          Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
          certificate.  As soon as practicable following the Distribution
          Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Rights
          Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common
          Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and
          such separate Rights Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

          The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date.  The
          Rights will expire on September 30, 2006 ("Final Expiration
          Date"), unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by
          the Company, in each case, as described below.

          The Purchase Price payable, and the manner of Preferred Stock or
          other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the
          Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent
          dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a
          subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
          Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of
          certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred
          Stock at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Stock
          with a conversion price, less than the then current market price
          of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders
          of the Preferred Stock of evidence of indebtedness or assets
          (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings
          or retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Stock) or
          of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to
          above).

          The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-
          hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise
          of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a
          stock split of the Common Stock or a stock dividend on the Common
          Stock payable in Common Stock or a subdivision, consolidation or
          combination of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case,
          prior to the Distribution Date.

          Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend,
          liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth
          interest in a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise
          of each Right should approximate the value of one share of Common
          Stock.

          Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not
          be redeemable.  Each share of preferred Stock will be entitled
          to a minimum preferential dividend payment of 100 times the
          dividend declared per share of Common Stock.  In the event of
          liquidation, the holder of the Preferred Stock will be entitled
          to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share
          but will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the
          payment made per share of Common Stock.  Each share of Preferred
          Stock will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common Stock. 
          Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other
          transaction in which Common Stock are exchanged, each share of
          Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount
          received per share of Common Stock.  These rights are protected
          by customary antidilution provisions.

          In the event that any person becomes the beneficial owner of