Now Reading: Three consumer commissions rule against banks in digital fraud cases
-
01
Three consumer commissions rule against banks in digital fraud cases
The Story in Brief
Three separate consumer forums have ruled against banks in unauthorised digital transaction cases, ordering refunds and compensation. The Punjab State Consumer Commission directed Punjab National Bank to refund Rs 72,495 with interest to a Bathinda man whose account was hit by 11 unauthorised UPI transactions on June 4 and 5, 2019, plus Rs 5,000 compensation and Rs 5,000 costs. The Delhi District Commission ordered Paytm Payments Bank to refund Rs 40,466 with 7% annual interest from July 6, 2022, when a failed insurance premium was debited but not received by ICICI General Insurance, plus Rs 25,000 compensation and Rs 5,000 costs.
The Delhi State Commission directed SBI to refund Rs 11,649.32 with 6% annual interest from September 18, 2021, plus Rs 5,000 compensation, after a senior citizen alleged his debit card was swapped at an ATM. All three commissions relied on the RBI's July 6, 2017, circular on customer liability in unauthorised electronic transactions, which provides for zero liability when customers report within three working days. The rulings emphasise that MPIN authentication alone does not prove customer negligence, placing the burden on banks to establish customer authorisation or fault.
Indian Opinion Analysis
All three sources report separate consumer commission rulings against banks for unauthorised electronic transactions, each with standard court-reporting framing. Indianexpress.com and Financialexpress.com both cover Punjab cases where the commission rejected banks' arguments that MPIN authentication alone proves customer liability, citing RBI's 2017 circular on zero liability for timely reporting. Livelaw.in's Delhi case focuses on Paytm Payments Bank's failure to transfer an insurance premium despite debiting the customer. The common thread across uniformly neutral coverage is the courts' consistent application of RBI guidelines placing the burden of proof on banks when customers report unauthorised transactions within three working days, rather than automatically assuming customer negligence.
Coverage: 3 sources, 3 neutral
Sources (3): financialexpress.com (neutral report), livelaw.in (neutral report), indianexpress.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
