Wrong Bank Debit? Get Your ₹ Back in 3 Steps

If your bank wrongly debits your account, RBI rules say you can get every rupee back — but only if you report it fast. Here's exactly what to do, step by step.

Here's what happened: RBI's zero-liability framework means customers owe nothing on unauthorised debits if reported within 3 working days of the bank's transaction alert.. If reported between 4 and 7 days, customer liability is capped at a set amount depending on the account type; beyond 7 days, liability rises sharply.. Banks are legally required to resolve fraud or error complaints within 30 days; failure to do so allows customers to escalate to the RBI Ombudsman at no cost..

What you should do: Check your SMS and email bank alerts every day — the 3-day zero-liability window starts from the alert timestamp, not when you notice the debit.. File your complaint in writing immediately via email to your bank's official grievance address and save the acknowledgement number as proof.. If your bank does not resolve the issue within 30 days, escalate online to the RBI Ombudsman at cms.rbi.org.in — the process is free and fully digital..

Screenshot the bank's transaction alert with its timestamp the moment you see it — this timestamp is your legal starting gun for the 3-day zero-liability clock.

For complaints against banks or NBFCs, our RBI complaint guide explains the free RB-IOS 2026 route.