-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HsB1MAKZZJZKGbKFb9TdklcLnuHRH9IE6V0RNNkSh761xXMmiaYGtRA/7Y0DJPJ+
 2XWPMogQDUaKLQJC+r5M8w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-03-003871.txt : 20031017
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-03-003871.hdr.sgml : 20031017
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031017135418
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-03-003871
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031013
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031017

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PIATT DAVID
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001267195

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15245
		FILM NUMBER:		03945524

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28001 DOROTHY DRIVE
		CITY:			AGOURA HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ELECTRONIC CLEARING HOUSE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000721773
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FUNCTIONS RELATED TO DEPOSITORY BANKING, NEC [6099]
		IRS NUMBER:				930946274
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28001 DOROTHY DR
		CITY:			AGOURA HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301-2697
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8187068999

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28001 DOROTHY DRIVE
		CITY:			AGOURA HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BIO RECOVERY TECHNOLOGY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860122
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-10-13</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000721773</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ELECTRONIC CLEARING HOUSE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECHO</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001267195</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PIATT DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>28001 DOROTHY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AGOURA HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91301</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable>
<nonDerivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>common</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>options</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>7.38</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2004-10-13</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2009-10-13</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>common</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>4000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>options</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>7.38</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2005-10-13</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2010-10-13</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>common</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>4000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>options</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>7.38</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2006-10-13</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2011-10-13</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>common</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>4000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>options</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>7.38</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2007-10-13</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2012-10-13</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>common</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>4000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>options</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>7.38</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2008-10-13</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2013-10-13</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>common</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>4000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<remarks></remarks>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>David Piatt</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-10-17</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----