-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 M8Zv0CyHRmhKkMtdwjpRff+i1CLmDx64kbgiabMm7I3HTzVLlms3Gmb4q+fWV4jo
 ay4VLcBOpIL/RGGSWlehag==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001312548-05-000001.txt : 20050426
<SEC-HEADER>0001312548-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050426
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050426120513
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001312548-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050422
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050426
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050426

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:			Murphy Michael R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001323510

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15245
		FILM NUMBER:		05772074

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(312) 920-2135

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DISCOVERY GROUP I, LLC
		STREET 2:		HYATT CENTER, 24TH FL, 71 SOUTH WACKER
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Donoghue Daniel J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001323511

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15245
		FILM NUMBER:		05772075

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(312) 920-2132

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DISCOVERY GROUP I, LLC
		STREET 2:		HYATT CENTER, 24TH FL, 71 SOUTH WACKER
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Discovery Group I, LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001312548
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15245
		FILM NUMBER:		05772076

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HYATT CENTER, 24TH FLOOR
		STREET 2:		71 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(312) 920-2131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HYATT CENTER, 24TH FLOOR
		STREET 2:		71 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001312548</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Discovery Group I, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HYATT CENTER, 24TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>71 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001323510</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Murphy Michael R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DISCOVERY GROUP I, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>HYATT CENTER, 24TH FL, 71 SOUTH WACKER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001323511</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Donoghue Daniel J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DISCOVERY GROUP I, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>HYATT CENTER, 24TH FL, 71 SOUTH WACKER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>686923</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Discovery Equity Partners, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Discovery Group I, LLC is the general partner for the limited partnership, which is a discretionary client of the reporting person, that owns the reported securities. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Discovery Group I, LLC is the general partner of Discovery Equity Partners, L.P. and the investment manager for Pleiades Investment Partners - D, L.P., both of whom are discretionary clients of the reporting person. The reported securities are owned by Discovery Equity Partners, L.P. and Pleiades Investment Partners - D, L.P. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of its pecuniary interests therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Michael R. Murphy and Daniel J. Donoghue are managing members of Discovery Group I, LLC, and each disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael R. Murphy, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael R. Murphy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Daniel J. Donoghue</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----