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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MdCxmljaGehUK4s3tkH/lq9X97zBMDLIB7VvvtSyHm914Ue4JH3tvqIiWMDsBf8Q
 hiErbL0Y+sujJ1f95YTX0w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001312548-08-000008.txt : 20080117
<SEC-HEADER>0001312548-08-000008.hdr.sgml : 20080117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080117182612
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001312548-08-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080117

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:		730 PASEO CAMARILLO
		CITY:			CAMARILLO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93010
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8187068999

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		730 PASEO CAMARILLO
		CITY:			CAMARILLO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93010

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BIO RECOVERY TECHNOLOGY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860122

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DISCOVERY EQUITY PARTNERS, LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001258542
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15245
		FILM NUMBER:		08537114

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DISCOVERY GROUP I, LLC
		STREET 2:		191 N. WACKER DRIVE SUITE 1685
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		312-265-9600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DISCOVERY GROUP I, LLC
		STREET 2:		191 N. WACKER DRIVE SUITE 1685
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DISCOVERY EQUITY PARTNERS LP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030806
</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>2008-01-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258542</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DISCOVERY EQUITY PARTNERS, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DISCOVERY GROUP I, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>191 N. WACKER DRIVE SUITE 1685</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>2008-01-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9435</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.5207</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>644034</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37795</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.5574</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>606239</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16150</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.5668</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>590089</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael R. Murphy, Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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