How to Dispute Wrong Credit Card Charges in India: RBI Rules

To dispute a wrong credit card charge in India, raise it with your card issuer in writing, with the transaction details, and keep the complaint number. If the charge is unauthorised, block the card first. Under RBI's credit card rules, the issuer must give you an explanation and, where applicable, documentary evidence within a maximum of 30 days from your complaint. If it doesn't reply within 30 days, rejects your complaint or you aren't satisfied, you can go to the RBI Ombudsman.

This guide covers the kinds of wrong charges, the steps to dispute one, what to pay meanwhile, how a dispute affects your credit report, and how to escalate. If you are also carrying a card balance, see our guide on how to clear credit card debt in India.

All dates and figures below are illustrations for a hypothetical cardholder, not quotes from any card issuer or lender. CredLinq is not a lender.

What counts as a wrong credit card charge?

• An unauthorised transaction: a payment you didn't make, for example after your card or its details were stolen.
• A billing error: a charge billed twice, the wrong amount, a fee or interest you don't think applies, or a refund that hasn't been credited.
• A problem with a merchant: you paid, but the goods or services didn't arrive or weren't as described. Contact the merchant first, then your card issuer if that doesn't work.

RBI's rules say card issuers must make sure wrong bills are not raised and issued to cardholders (RBI credit card Directions, 2025, para 25). How your issuer handles billing disputes must be set out in its most important terms and conditions (para 91).

What should you do first if a charge is unauthorised?

1. Block the card at once. RBI's rules require card issuers to give you several channels to report loss, theft or unauthorised use 24x7, such as a helpline, SMS, email, the app or website, and to let you start blocking the card yourself (para 69). The issuer must send you a confirmation straight after the card is blocked (para 70). The blocking helpline and SMS numbers are on your card statement.
2. Report the transaction as fraud to the issuer, with the date, amount and merchant name as shown.
3. Never share an OTP, PIN or CVV with anyone, including someone who says they are calling from your bank to "reverse" the charge.

RBI's rules say no charges can be levied on transactions you have disputed as fraud until the dispute is resolved (para 27).

If a bank issued your card, RBI's rules also limit what you can lose to an unauthorised electronic transaction. If the fault lies with neither you nor the bank and you report it within three working days of the bank's alert, your liability is zero. If you report it within four to seven working days, it is capped at the transaction amount or ₹10,000 (₹25,000 if your card limit is above ₹5 lakh), whichever is lower; after that, the bank's own policy applies. If you shared your OTP, PIN or card details, you bear the loss until you report it. The bank must credit the disputed amount back within 10 working days of your report, and on a credit card you shouldn't bear extra interest because of it (RBI Responsible Business Conduct Directions, 2025, Section D, "Limiting Liability of Customers in Unauthorised Electronic Banking Transactions"). These rules apply to banks only; if an NBFC issued your card, ask it for its policy in writing.

How do you dispute a wrong charge, step by step?

1. Collect the details: your statement, the transaction date and amount, and any receipts, emails or messages.
2. Raise the dispute in writing through the issuer's app, website, email or helpline. Say clearly which charge is wrong and why.
3. Get a complaint number. RBI's rules say the issuer must acknowledge your complaint with a complaint or docket number, even if you complain by phone, and must escalate unresolved complaints automatically (para 84).
4. Wait for the explanation. When you protest a bill, the issuer must give you an explanation and, wherever applicable, documentary evidence within a maximum of 30 days from your complaint (para 25).
5. Escalate if needed (see below).

Worked example (illustration only). If you complain about a charge on 3 November 2026, the issuer must give you its explanation by 3 December 2026 at the latest. If you've heard nothing by then, you can take it further.

Do you still have to pay your bill during a dispute?

Pay at least the part of your bill you don't dispute by the due date. That avoids a late fee and keeps the rest of your record on time. Card issuers' published revolving rates are about 3.5% to 4% a month, which is about 42% to 48% a year, plus 18% GST on the interest (card issuers' published terms, checked 28 October 2026), so any amount you leave unpaid can get expensive.

Ask the issuer in writing how it will treat the disputed amount while it investigates, and keep the reply. If the charge turns out to be wrong, ask for any interest or fees linked to it to be reversed too.

Can a disputed charge affect your credit report?

RBI's rules say card issuers must be particularly careful with cards that have pending disputes, and information about a default should be disclosed only after the dispute is settled (para 36).

If something wrong still shows on your credit report, raise it with the credit bureau or the issuer. Under RBI's credit reporting rules, the lender has 21 days to send corrected information, and the lender and bureau together have 30 days to resolve your complaint. If it isn't resolved within 30 calendar days, you are entitled to compensation of ₹100 for each day of delay (RBI Credit Information Reporting Directions, 2025, para 35). Our guide on how to fix errors on your CIBIL report has the steps.

How do you escalate if the issuer doesn't help?

1. The grievance redressal officer. Every card issuer must have one. Their name, direct number, email and postal address must be on your card bills and statements (para 83).
2. The RBI Ombudsman. If the issuer doesn't respond within 30 days of your complaint, rejects it wholly or partly, or you aren't satisfied with its reply, you can complain to the RBI Ombudsman online at cms.rbi.org.in (para 85). It is free of charge, if your issuer is covered by the Scheme. Not every NBFC is. File within 90 days of the date the 30 days run out or of the issuer's last reply, whichever is later (RBI Integrated Ombudsman FAQs, Q13, Q17 and Q21).
3. Compensation. RBI's rules say card issuers are liable to compensate you for loss of time, expenses, financial loss and harassment caused by their fault, or where your grievance isn't redressed in time (para 85).

Be wary of anyone who offers to get a charge reversed for a fee. Disputing a charge with your issuer and the Ombudsman costs nothing.

Struggling with card balances on top of a dispute? If you'd like help understanding your options, you can send CredLinq an enquiry. CredLinq is free for you. We never charge borrowers. Not a lender. We don't set rates or approve loans, and we can't promise a lower rate or an approval.

How we research this

We read RBI's rules directly and quote the paragraph numbers, so you can check them. We don't name card issuers. The paragraph numbers in this guide are from the version for banks; NBFC card issuers follow the NBFC version, which has the same rules with the same numbers for wrong bills, fraud disputes and pending disputes (paras 25, 27 and 36), but numbers the later paragraphs cited here six lower (69, 70, 83, 84, 85 and 91 are 63, 64, 77, 78, 79 and 85). The customer-liability rules cited by section are in RBI's Directions for banks only. Sources:

1. Reserve Bank of India, Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Credit Cards and Debit Cards: Issuance and Conduct) Directions, 2025, RBI/DOR/2025-26/155, 28 Nov 2025, paras 25, 27, 36, 69, 70, 83, 84, 85 and 91. https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=13155 (accessed 2026-10-29); NBFC version: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=12956 (accessed 2026-10-29)
2. Reserve Bank of India, Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Credit Information Reporting) Directions, 2025, para 35. https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=13154 (accessed 2026-10-29)
3. Reserve Bank of India, FAQs – Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2026 (updated as on 1 Jul 2026), Q3, Q13, Q17 and Q21; the 90-day limit is clause 10(1)(g) of the Scheme, which replaced the 2021 Scheme from 1 Jul 2026. https://www.rbi.org.in/commonperson/english/scripts/FAQs.aspx?Id=3407 (accessed 2026-10-26)
4. CBIC, Notification No. 12/2017-Central Tax (Rate), Sl. 27, and Notification No. 11/2017-Central Tax (Rate) (as amended), heading 9971(v), for 18% GST on card interest. https://cbic-gst.gov.in/hindi/pdf/central-tax-rate/Notification12-CGST.pdf and https://cbic-gst.gov.in/hindi/pdf/central-tax-rate/Notification11-CGST.pdf (accessed 2026-10-24)
5. CredLinq Market Research: card issuers' published terms (checked 2026-10-24; revolving rates re-checked 2026-10-28). Ranges only; issuers not named.
6. Reserve Bank of India, Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Responsible Business Conduct) Directions, 2025, RBI/DOR/2025-26/170, 28 Nov 2025 (updated as on 1 Oct 2026), Section D, "Limiting Liability of Customers in Unauthorised Electronic Banking Transactions"; applies to banks only. https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=13140 (accessed 2026-11-01)

Last reviewed: 1 November 2026