Owing money doesn't mean losing your dignity.

Recovery agents are allowed to remind you about dues. They are not allowed to threaten you, call at midnight, shame you in front of family or colleagues, or post about you online. Here's what RBI rules say — and what to do when they're broken.

Get help now

What recovery agents can't do

These apply to banks, NBFCs and the agents they hire.

Call before 8 am or after 7 pmCalls and messages outside these hours, or excessive calling, count as harassment.

Threaten, abuse or intimidateNo threats of violence or "police case", no abusive language, no anonymous threatening calls.

Harass your family, friends or colleaguesIntimidating the people around you to pressure you is not allowed.

Shame you in public or onlineNo posting your details or call recordings on social media, no public humiliation.

Mislead you about the debtFalse claims about what you owe or what will happen to you are prohibited.

Visit at the wrong timeAgents should avoid bereavements, medical emergencies and family occasions like weddings.

New protections from 1 January 2027

RBI's updated recovery directions, issued in August 2026, add more safeguards across banks and NBFCs.

Calls are recordedLenders must record recovery calls and tell you they're being recorded.

You'll know who's comingLenders must tell you which agency is assigned at least a day before an in-person visit.

Agents must identify themselvesAn ID card, an authorisation letter and a copy of the notice, every visit.

A named grievance officerTheir contact details must appear in your loan agreement and on every recovery communication.

Being harassed? Do this.

Keep a record

Note the date, time and number of every call. Save messages and voice notes. Ask any visiting agent for ID and their authorisation letter.

Complain to the lender

Write to the lender's grievance officer with your evidence. Keep the acknowledgement.

Escalate to RBI

No reply in 30 days, or unhappy with it? File free with the RBI Ombudsman at cms.rbi.org.in or call 14448.

Police, if threatened

Threats of violence, or someone turning up and refusing to leave, are a matter for the police. Don't wait.

How Relive Shield helps

Seedhi baat: your rights protect your dignity. They don't cancel the debt. We help with both.

Draft and send your complaint to the lender's grievance officer, with your evidence attached.
Escalate to the RBI Ombudsman if the lender doesn't respond properly.
Fix the debt itself — through a negotiated closure or consolidation, so the calls stop for good.

Never pay a recovery agent in cash or into a personal account. Pay only to the lender's official account, and get a receipt.

Your rights

Calls getting too much? Let's deal with the debt behind them.

Talk to a counsellor today, or create a free account to see your options. 1800-XXX-XXXX

Talk to a counsellor