Outlook Business Desk
A Reddit user recently shared how her father was charged ₹590 by ICICI Bank for a failed mutual fund Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) auto debit from his account. The incident highlights broader concerns over penal charges on small investors, reported The Economic Times.
According to the user, her father’s SIP was set up through a secondary ICICI Bank account. On the 31st, the primary bank’s server was down, so the money didn’t transfer on time — triggering a ₹590 auto-debit failure charge from ICICI.
The user said they have mailed ICICI Bank requesting a one-time waiver of the ₹590 charge, mentioning a decade-long relationship with the bank and complete financial discipline as the basis for the request.
Banks charge penalties when there aren’t enough funds to honour auto debit requests for SIP or EMI payments. These transactions are processed through electronic systems such as Electronic Clearing Service (ECS), National Automated Clearing House (NACH), and NPCI’s UPI Autopay.
For people investing ₹500 or less monthly, a single penalty often exceeds the SIP amount. One missed payment can cost more than the entire instalment, especially for investors with small, recurring contributions.
The penal charges appear disproportionate to the failure. It impacts small investors the most, says Sanjeev Govila, a certified financial planner and CEO of Hum Fauji Initiatives, calling the situation unfair for low-value retail investors, according to The Economic Times.
Govila says high charges on failed SIPs raise ethical concerns. Small investors with limited financial buffers may get discouraged from long-term investing if they are punished heavily for accidental payment bounces.
Govila believes the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should step in and regulate NACH return charges for investments. Small defaults shouldn’t attract big penalties, especially when investors have no debt and are saving for long-term financial security, according to him.