New FASTag rules effective today: How to avoid penalties, blacklisting
What's the story
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways have announced new rules for FASTag users, effective from today. The changes are aimed at streamlining toll payments and reducing disputes. They primarily target users who delay payments or have blacklisted tags, introducing stricter guidelines for transaction processing and chargebacks.
Rule changes
Penalties for delayed transactions and insufficient balance
Fastag users might have to pay extra fees if their toll transactions are processed more than 15 minutes after their vehicle passes the toll reader. As per updated National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) guidelines, if there is a delay and the user's Fastag account has insufficient balance, the toll operator will be held accountable. However, if the amount is deducted, users can challenge the charge, but only after a mandatory 15-day cooling-off period.
New regulations
Revised chargeback process and cooling period
The revised rules also mention that banks can raise chargebacks for wrong deductions for blacklisted or low-balance FASTags, but only after a 15-day cooling period. If a chargeback is filed before the period ends, it will be automatically rejected with a system error code (5290 - Cooling period not completed). The implementation date for these changes in the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) system will be announced separately.
Transaction rejection
Transactions from inactive or blacklisted tags to be declined
Another rule update impacts blacklisted, low balance, or hotlisted FASTags due to inactivity. If a FASTag remains inactive for more than 60 minutes before the vehicle crosses the toll and up to 10 minutes after passing, the transaction will be declined with reason code 176. This rule will be implemented from February 17, 2025.
User guidelines
How to avoid unexpected charges and transaction failures
To avoid unexpected charges and transaction failures, FASTag users are advised to ensure sufficient balance in their wallet before traveling. They should also monitor transaction times for any delays in deduction. If a charge is incorrectly deducted, they must wait for the 15-day cooling period before raising a dispute. Users should also stay informed about their FASTag status to prevent rejections due to inactivity.