Failed Transaction Compensation

UPI, ATM or card payment failed? The RBI refund deadline, what the bank owes you, and a complaint letter

Reviewed by the PaisaTools Editorial Team · Last reviewed September 2026

How to use: Pick what failed, enter the transaction date and the date the money came back (or leave it empty).

ExampleUPI transfer failed on 1 September, money back on 6 September — how late was the bank, and what does it owe?

What failed?Money debited, but the other person didn't receive itDate of the transactionDate the money came backLeave empty if it hasn't come back yet.

Amount (for the letter)Your bank

Amount and bank stay on this screen — they are not saved or sent anywhere.

Where to complain, in order

Raise it inside your UPI app (Help → the transaction) or with your bank's customer care, and note the complaint number.
Send the letter to your bank's grievance officer (email address on the bank's website).
No reply in 30 days, or unhappy with it? File free with the RBI Ombudsman at cms.rbi.org.in.

Based on RBI/2019-20/67, DPSS.CO.PD No.629/02.01.014/2019-20 dated 20 September 2019. Applies to domestic transactions. Deadlines count calendar days from the transaction date. Information, not legal advice.

How it works

A payment fails, the money leaves your account, and the app says “will be refunded”. Most people wait and forget. What almost nobody knows is that RBI fixed the deadline for every kind of failed transaction in 2019 — and made banks pay the customer for every day they miss it.

This checker turns that circular into a date and a number. Pick what failed, enter when it happened and when the money came back, and it shows the deadline, how many days late the bank was, the compensation owed, and a complaint letter with the circular reference filled in.

Money going out through loans and cards instead? See the credit card payoff calculator or the EMI calculator.

Method & sources

RBI circular RBI/2019-20/67, DPSS.CO.PD No.629/02.01.014/2019-20, “Harmonisation of Turn Around Time (TAT) and customer compensation for failed transactions using authorised Payment Systems”, 20 September 2019. Complaints: RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, cms.rbi.org.in.

What this doesn't cover

Covers the transaction types in RBI's framework, for domestic transactions. It does not cover fraud or unauthorised transactions, which follow separate RBI liability rules, or delays caused by the customer's own error. Not legal advice.

Frequently asked

UPI transaction failed but money was deducted — when will I get it back?: Under RBI's turnaround-time rules, a UPI transfer to a person must be reversed by the end of the day after the transaction (T+1), and a UPI payment to a merchant within five days (T+5). Enter your transaction date in the checker to see your exact deadline.
Does the bank have to pay compensation if the refund is late?: Yes. RBI's framework sets compensation for each day of delay beyond the deadline, and says it should be credited to the customer without waiting for a complaint. The checker counts the days and the amount for your case.
What if the ATM debited my account but gave no cash?: The bank must reverse it within five days of the transaction (T+5); after that, compensation applies for every day of delay. Choose 'ATM withdrawal' in the checker and enter both dates.
The bank didn't pay the compensation. Where do I complain?: Complain to the bank first — in your UPI app or to customer care — then write to the bank's grievance officer. If there is no reply within 30 days, or you are not satisfied, you can file a free complaint with the RBI Ombudsman at cms.rbi.org.in.
Does this apply to international transactions?: No. The RBI framework covers domestic transactions, where both the sender and the receiver's bank are in India.

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