False Toll Deduction: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is taking strong steps to stop incorrect toll deductions from FASTag wallets. Many people have complained on social media about money being taken from their accounts by mistake. To fix this, NHAI has started punishing toll operators who make these errors.
Reports say that NHAI has already fined toll operators in 250 cases for wrong deductions. The fines are big around ₹1 lakh for each mistake. According to Business Standard, this action has helped reduce such cases by almost 70%. Now, NHAI’s toll management team, called Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), gets about 50 genuine complaints every month. This is much lower compared to the 300 million FASTag transactions that happen every month on national highways.
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Why Do False Deductions Happen?
There are a few reasons why money is sometimes taken from FASTag wallets by mistake:
- Wrong Vehicle Number Entry: Sometimes, toll operators type the wrong vehicle number during manual transactions. This can lead to money being taken from the wrong account.
- Technical Problems: Glitches in the toll booth system can cause double or incorrect deductions.
- FASTag Placement Issues: If the FASTag is not stuck properly on the car’s windshield or is damaged, the system may not read it correctly, causing errors.
- Low Balance: If there isn’t enough money in the FASTag account, the transaction may fail or cause issues.
- Multiple FASTags for One Vehicle: If more than one FASTag is linked to the same vehicle, it can lead to double charges.
False Toll Deduction: How to Protect Yourself
Manmeet Kaur, a legal expert from Karanjawala & Co., shares some important tips to help you avoid problems with FASTag. First, always make sure your vehicle number is correctly registered with your FASTag account. This helps prevent errors during toll transactions. Second, regularly check your FASTag account to see if any wrong charges have been made. If you notice something unusual, report it immediately.
If you see a false deduction, act quickly. Call customer support right away, provide details of the wrong transaction, and file a formal complaint. You can also ask your bank to change your FASTag if needed to avoid further issues. These steps can help you protect your money and ensure your FASTag works smoothly.
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Manmeet Kaur says, “Any deviation from regular deduction should be reported immediately, same could be on account of misuse of Tag including cloning of the TAG.”
