You inserted the card, the screen said “transaction successful,” the machine made noise — and no cash came out. Your account shows the debit. RBI rules are crystal clear: this is a failed transaction, the bank must reverse it within T+5 working days, and pay you ₹100/day compensation for every day of delay beyond T+5. This page is the operational dispute playbook that most cardholders never invoke.
Citizen Crisis Response Network — RBI rule (Aug 2019)
Bank must auto-reverse failed ATM transactions within 5 working days (T+5). Beyond that, ₹100 per calendar day of delay is payable to the customer, automatic credit, no application needed.
If your ATM withdrawal failed (account debited but no cash dispensed) in India: (1) note the TID / RRN (transaction ID / reference number) from the ATM receipt or your SMS, (2) wait until T+5 working days for auto-reversal, (3) if not reversed, file a written dispute with your bank quoting the TID + ATM ID + time, (4) bank must reverse + pay ₹100/day compensation, (5) if bank stalls beyond 30 days, file at the Banking Ombudsman at cms.rbi.org.in, (6) no fee, no FIR needed for this category.
The bank's responsibility is identical whether the ATM belongs to it or another bank.
RBI's circular DPSS.CO.PD No.629/02.01.014/2019-20 (and follow-ups) mandates:
If your bank does not auto-reverse, the compensation rule still applies — but you must invoke it via a written dispute.
If the ATM debited but didn't dispense cash and you're still at the location:
The bank's investigation hinges on the JP log; your job is to give them the right TID quickly.
If the debit is from an ATM you never used (skimming / cloned card):
This is different from the “cash not dispensed” failure path. See also ATM fraud recovery.
To,
The Branch Manager + Cards / ATM Operations,
[Bank Name], [Branch], [City]
Subject: Failed ATM transaction — debit not reversed within T+5 —
TID [_____] dated [date] — request for refund + RBI compensation
Sir / Madam,
I, [Full name], holder of A/C [number], hereby report a failed ATM
transaction:
Date / Time : ___
ATM Location : ___
ATM ID : ___
TID / RRN : ___
Amount debited : ₹___
Cash dispensed : ₹0 / ₹___ (partial)
T+5 working days have elapsed without auto-reversal. Per RBI circular
DPSS.CO.PD No.629/02.01.014/2019-20, I am entitled to:
a) Reversal of ₹[amount]
b) Compensation of ₹100 per calendar day of delay beyond T+5,
totalling ₹___ as of today
I request:
- Investigation via JP log of the ATM
- CCTV review for [date / time]
- Reversal + auto-credit of compensation within 10 working days
- Written reply
If unresolved within 30 days, I will file at the RBI Banking Ombudsman
(cms.rbi.org.in) under RB-IOS 2021.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature, Name, Date]
[Phone, Email, Aadhaar last 4]
ATM cash not dispensed India 2026, ATM transaction failed refund, RBI T+5 ATM rule, ₹100 per day ATM compensation, ATM dispute SBI HDFC ICICI, ATM JP log review, failed ATM withdrawal RBI, ATM TID RRN, ATM CCTV review dispute, partial cash dispense ATM
“ATM debited no cash India.” · “RBI ATM rule T+5 days.” · “₹100 per day ATM compensation.” · “Failed ATM transaction refund process.” · “ATM JP log review.”
[Process timeline] "Failed ATM transaction"
T+0 : transaction failure noted
T+5 : auto-reversal due
T+5+ : ₹100 per day kicks in
T+30 : escalate to Ombudsman
[Decision tree] "Cash not dispensed"
Was account debited? → yes → wait T+5
Auto-reversed? → yes → done
→ no → bank dispute → CCTV review → Ombudsman
[Compensation table]
Auto-reversal : ₹X (disputed amount)
+ delay compensation : ₹100/day beyond T+5
+ Ombudsman award : up to ₹1 lakh harassment
++++ My bank says CCTV is unavailable / overwritten. Can it still refund? | Yes — the JP log is primary. If JP log is inconclusive AND CCTV unavailable, the benefit of doubt is to the customer per RBI's 2017 framework. ++++
++++ Are weekends / holidays counted in T+5? | No — only working days. So T+5 calendar days could be 7-8 actual days. ++++
++++ What if ₹100/day compensation isn't auto-credited? | Demand it via dispute citing the RBI circular. Banks rarely contest this once explicitly invoked. ++++
++++ Is FIR required for ATM cash-not-dispensed? | No, only for fraud. Failed transactions are processed without FIR. ++++
++++ Can the next person who used the ATM withdraw my money? | If cash remained in the dispenser cradle and was taken by the next user, the bank's CCTV / JP log shows this. The bank still owes you reversal; recovery from the next user is the bank's problem. ++++
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| “Bank refund takes months.” | T+5 working days is the rule. Beyond, ₹100/day is automatic. |
| “I need to file FIR for failed ATM.” | Failed (non-fraud) transactions don't need FIR. |
| “Other-bank ATM refusals are slower.” | Same rule applies; your bank pays compensation. |
| “JP log is final.” | CCTV review is your right; ombudsman can override JP log. |
| “₹100/day compensation is small.” | Adds up — and the rule's existence pressures the bank to auto-reverse on time. |
Failed ATM transactions are one of the few citizen disputes where RBI rules are mechanical — auto-reverse in 5 days, ₹100/day after that. The whole machinery works only if you note the TID and file the dispute on time. Save the bank's 24×7 ATM-dispute number on your phone; one minute at the machine saves a month of follow-up.
This page is part of RTI Wiki's Citizen Crisis Response Network. Updates tracked through RBI circulars, NPCI advisories, and Banking Ombudsman awards.