31/03/2021
ALERT: From April 1, Expect Disruptions on Card Payments
Auto and recurring payments of your mobile, utility bills as well as subscription charges for over-the-top (OTT) platforms are likely to be disrupted from April 1, thanks to a new Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rule. RBI's new rule shall require an additional factor of authentication (AFA) for auto and recurring transactions using credit card, debit card, UPI, or other prepaid payment instruments (PPIs).
1. Any payment above Rs. 5000 shall not be done automatically and all banks will have to decline any such recurring payment requests.
2. All Billers/Banks are required to send a notification to the user/customer atleast 24 hours before the trnasaction to approve the same using additional factor of authentication (AFA). It is unsure how banks will reach out to the customers; it could be on email or SMS or both.
3. Users/Customers would be required to register for an e-mandate.
How will it Impact D2C Businesses
1. If your payments on Facebook, Google Ads, Google G Suite is above Rs. 5000 then you should closely monitor your SMSs and emails for a pre-transaction notification. In case, you do not complete AFA, the transactions shall be declined.
2. If your cards are on file on Shopify, AWS, Godaddy, Slack or any other similar servers, you should expect disruption in payments.
Its hard to pre-empt the quantum of disruptions right now, please keep track of Bank notifications.
References
1. https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/your-auto-debit-payments-for-bills-subscriptions-may-fail-from-april-1-heres-why-6707501.html
2. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/your-automatic-debit-credit-card-payments-likely-to-fail-from-april-1-121033000550_1.html
Over-the-top streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, telecom service providers and power distribution companies will fall under the ambit of the RBI's new rule.