-----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,
 M2FnV1by2SZucZrzNIBDpVCk1l0k4Mv+SGHGLgfVyHhJHv2Bg4UVXCbLHyaw/DUo
 rSGu8kxXDAtDp6JyJACgmA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-04-003752.txt : 20040621
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-04-003752.hdr.sgml : 20040621
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040621161303
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-04-003752
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040617
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040621

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SELTZER ALEX
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186063

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15245
		FILM NUMBER:		04872757

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28001 DOROTHY DRIVE
		CITY:			AGOURA HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8187058999

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28001 DOROTHY DRIVE
		CITY:			AGOURA HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000721773</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ELECTRONIC CLEARING HOUSE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECHO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186063</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SELTZER ALEX</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>730 PASEO CAMARILLO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMARILLO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93010</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>COO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1700</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.644</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>74000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>74000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Various option prices vary between $1.29 to $6.85.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options have various exercisable dates ranging from 8/28/03 to 12/15/04.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options have various expiration dates ranging from 8/28/09 to 12/15/13.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Alex Seltzer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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