SMS Alert Charges on Mandatory Transaction Alerts
Your bank is charging Rs.15-25 per month for SMS alerts on transactions. But SMS alerts for transactions above Rs.5,000 are mandated by RBI as a consumer protection measure — not an optional service.
⚖️Your Rights Under RBI Regulations
SMS and email alerts for all transactions above Rs.5,000 are mandatory under RBI guidelines — they cannot be treated as a chargeable add-on service.
Banks must provide one free monthly account statement — physically or by email.
NEFT and RTGS transactions initiated online must be free (RBI/2019-20/142).
💰 What You Can Recover
Refund of all SMS charges levied from date of first charge to date of recovery, with interest.
⏱ Response Deadline
Bank must respond to written complaint within 30 days.
📋Step-by-Step — What to Do
Calculate total SMS charges deducted over the past 12 months from your statements.
Write to branch manager citing the specific RBI circular. Most banks refund immediately.
If refused, escalate to Nodal Officer and then RBI Ombudsman.
🏛 Where to Escalate If Bank Doesn't Respond
RBI Integrated Ombudsman — cms.rbi.org.in
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