"Can't change account type"

If you receive "Error on line X - You can't change the type of an account," it means that Statement Converter and QuickBooks disagree on the type of the account.

What is happening: You are trying to import into an account which is set in QuickBooks to a type that is different from what Statement Converter is using.

By default, Statement Converter assumes you are posting transactions to expense accounts, unless you specify otherwise in your config settings or Lookup table.  If the account type in QuickBooks is different, such as "cost of goods sold" or "income," the types won't match and QuickBooks will give this error.

Example:  You told Statement Converter to use "Job Materials" as the expense account but in your QuickBooks chart of accounts Job Materials is set as a "Cost of goods sold" account; since the account types don’t match, QuickBooks gives an error.

Solution:

  1. Using Excel, open the .IIF file that you are trying to import and look at the line (row) to determine the name of the account which is causing the issue. Most common is line (row) 4, which is the default account for expenses/debits.
  2. Next, look at the account in your QuickBooks chart of accounts to see what TYPE it is.
  3. Now that you know which account name is causing the issue, you have three choices:
A.  If you are using the Lookup feature, locate any entries in your lookup table which specify this account and set the appropriate account type in column G.  See here for complete details about the Lookup Feature
B. If the offending account is set in your config settings (Convert to QB > View settings...), be sure the appropriate account type has been selected from the pull down options.  
(If using a version of Statement Converter prior to 3.0, add the setting QB_EXPENSE_ACCOUNT_TYPE to your statement configuration file. For example:
QB_Expense_Account_Type = Cost_of_goods_sold
This setting and the values you can use are explained in detail here: QB_Expense_Account_Type)
C. Create a new expense account in your QuickBooks chart of accounts, say, "My Credits TBD," and put that account name into your config file, or
D. In QuickBooks, change the account type to "Expense" (Chart of Accounts > (select account) > Edit)

If you're unsure, I'll help you figure it out. Create a support ticket and attach your files. Please include screenshots whenever possible.