RBI Sachet complaint: full step-by-step guide

Sachet kya hai? The reality behind the RBI portal

If you are dealing with abusive recovery agents, predatory lending apps, or digital financial fraud, you have probably been told to "complain to the RBI." But the Reserve Bank of India does not have a single, magical inbox where you can just drop an email and expect a SWAT team to raid a loan app's office. Instead, the RBI operates a specific early-warning system and grievance redressal routing mechanism.

This portal is called Sachet.

So, Sachet kya hai? Sachet (accessible directly at sachet.rbi.org.in) is the official mechanism created by the State Level Coordination Committee (SLCC) and hosted by the RBI. Its primary job is to gather intelligence on unauthorized acceptance of deposits, illegal money pooling, and, crucially for digital borrowers, unauthorized lending and recovery harassment.

It is important to understand what Sachet is not. It is not a consumer court. It is not a police station. It is an intelligence-gathering and routing hub. When you file an rbi sachet complaint, the system analyzes the entity you are complaining about. If the entity is a registered Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), the complaint is routed to the appropriate RBI ombudsman or regulatory department. If the entity is entirely illegal—a fake loan app run by overseas syndicates—the complaint is bundled with others and forwarded to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the state police or the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for app takedowns.

Twitter rants tagging the Finance Minister do not trigger regulatory action. Facebook consumer forum posts do not result in official investigations. An rbi sachet complaint is the only administrative path that officially registers your grievance into the national regulatory database.

Pehle decide karo: Kaunsa channel sahi hai?

Before you rush to sachet.rbi.org.in, you need to know if it is actually the right place for your specific problem. Many borrowers waste weeks waiting for a Sachet resolution when they should have gone to the Banking Ombudsman or the cyber police.

Here is exactly how to route your grievance based on the behavior of the lender.

Issue	Entity Type	Where to file	Why this channel?
Recovery agent harassment (calls, texts)	Registered NBFC / Bank	Banking Ombudsman (CMS)	CMS is built specifically for regulated entities. Sachet will just bounce this to CMS eventually, delaying the process.
Illegal/unregistered loan app extortion	Unregistered / Fake App	RBI Sachet	Sachet tracks unauthorized digital lending platforms and coordinates with MeitY to ban apps from the Google Play Store.
Criminal threats, morphing photos, abuse	Any (Registered or Fake)	Police 112 + cybercrime.gov.in	Sachet cannot stop a criminal from morphing your photos. Only the police have the mandate to intervene in active criminal intimidation.
KYC misuse / fake loan showing in your name	Any	UIDAI + cybercrime + Sachet	You need a multi-pronged approach: UIDAI for Aadhaar lock, cybercrime for identity theft, and Sachet to alert the regulator of systemic KYC failures.
Data leaked, contact list hacked	Any	DPDP grievance + Sachet	Sachet logs the systemic data breach, while you secure your digital footprint locally.

If you are dealing with brutal recovery tactics—agents calling your family, using abusive language, or threatening to file fake FIRs—and you need immediate help organizing your evidence, use our Harassment Checker. It auto-generates a Sachet-ready complaint draft from your specific situation, saving you the headache of figuring out the legal phrasing.

The Evidence Checklist (Before you open the portal)

Do not open the Sachet website until you have all your files ready. The portal has session timeouts, and scrambling to find a screenshot while the timer ticks down will just lead to frustration and a lost draft. To learn how to file sachet complaint effectively, you must understand that evidence is everything.

Gather the following items. Treat this like building a dossier for a legal case:

• Exact App Name and Package ID: Do not just write "CashApp." You need the Google Play Store URL. The package ID is the text in the URL after id=. For example, in play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.predatory.loan, the package ID is com.predatory.loan. This is how regulators identify apps even after they change their names.
• Lender Details: If they are registered, find the NBFC name. This is often buried in the app's "About Us" section or at the bottom of their website.
• Key Fact Statement (KFS) or Loan Agreement: If the app provided one, download it as a PDF. If they did not provide one, note this down—failing to provide a KFS is a direct violation of the RBI Digital Lending Guidelines 2022.
• Disbursement Proof: Download your bank statement showing the exact NEFT/IMPS/UPI transaction where the money hit your account. Highlight the sender's name and the transaction reference number.
• Harassment Screenshots: Take screenshots of WhatsApp messages, SMS threats, and missed call logs. Ensure the date, time, and the sender's phone number are clearly visible.
• Audio Recordings: If you recorded abusive calls, save them. Crucial technical note: Sachet only accepts specific file formats, usually MP3 or WAV, and strictly limits the file size (typically max 5MB). You may need to use an online audio compressor.
• Your Government ID: Have your PAN card or Aadhaar card ready. Sachet requires this to verify you are a real citizen, but this ID is kept confidential by the regulator and is not shared with the predatory app.

Step-by-Step Sachet Playbook: Navigating the Portal

Filing a loan app harassment complaint on Sachet requires precision. The portal's user interface is functional but can be slightly confusing if you do not know what to expect. Here is a step-by-step prose walkthrough of exactly what you will see on your screen and what you need to click.

Step 1: Accessing the Portal

Open your web browser and go directly to sachet.rbi.org.in. Visualizing the screen: You will see a clean, government-style website. The top navigation bar is typically blue or dark-themed. You will see several options like "Home," "About Us," "Help," and prominently, "File a complaint." Ignore the scrolling ticker tape of warnings. Click directly on the button or tab labeled "File a complaint."

Step 2: The Disclaimer and Language Selection

Visualizing the screen: A pop-up or a new page will appear showing a stern disclaimer. It will remind you that Sachet is for unauthorized acceptance of deposits and unauthorized lending. It will reiterate that complaints against regulated banks should go to the Banking Ombudsman. Read it, accept the terms, and you may be prompted to select your preferred language (English or Hindi). Choose the one you are most comfortable with, though English is generally preferred for technical banking terms.

Step 3: Complainant Details (Your Information)

Visualizing the screen: The form is divided into distinct sections. The first block is all about you. You will see text fields for:

• Name: Enter your legal name exactly as it appears on your PAN/Aadhaar.
• Mobile Number: Enter your active mobile number. You will likely need to click a button to generate an OTP (One Time Password) to verify this number.
• Email ID: Provide a working email address. This is critical because your reference number and all future correspondence will be sent here.
• Address Details: Standard fields for your house number, street, city, state, and PIN code.
• Identity Document: A dropdown menu will ask you to select an ID type (PAN, Aadhaar, Voter ID). Select one and type the corresponding document number in the adjacent text box. Remember, Sachet does not accept anonymous complaints.

Step 4: Entity Details (Who are you complaining about?)

Visualizing the screen: Scroll down to the next major block. This is where you identify the culprit.

• Entity Name: Type the name of the app or the company. If it is an unregistered loan app, type the app name (e.g., "RupeeQuick App").
• Type of Entity: This is a crucial dropdown. You will see options like Company, Cooperative Society, NBFC, or "Unauthorized digital lending platform / App". If you are dealing with a fake app, select the unauthorized/app option. If it is a known NBFC harassing you, select NBFC.
• Entity Address: If you know their registered address (check the app's website or KFS), enter it. If they are an illegal app hiding their location, you can write "Unknown - Digital App available on Google Play Store."
• State/District: If unknown, select the state where you reside, or leave it blank if the form permits.

Step 5: Complaint Details (The Core Issue)

Visualizing the screen: This is the most important part of the form.

• Nature of Complaint: Another dropdown menu. Look for the closest match to your situation. You will typically find options related to "Unauthorized lending," "Harassment by recovery agent," or "Non-repayment of deposits." Select the one that fits best.
• Amount Involved: Enter the exact disbursement amount you received, or the extortion amount they are demanding. Be precise.
• Description Box: You will see a large, blank text box. This is where you paste your complaint narrative. Do not write an emotional essay. Do not use ALL CAPS. Keep it factual, dated, and strictly chronological. (See our copy-paste templates in the next section).

Step 6: Uploading Evidence

Visualizing the screen: Below the description box, you will find the file upload section. There will be a "Choose File" button. Click it and upload the dossier you prepared earlier. Upload your KFS (PDF), your bank statement (PDF), your compilation of harassment screenshots (PDF or JPEG), and your compressed audio recordings (MP3/WAV). Pay close attention to the red text near the upload button indicating the maximum file size. If your file is too large, the form will reject it and you may have to start over.

Step 7: Submit and Save the Reference Number

Visualizing the screen: At the very bottom is a captcha code (letters and numbers in a distorted image) and a "Submit" button. Type the captcha carefully and click Submit. Stop right here. The next screen will display a system-generated Reference Number (or Complaint Number). It will also be emailed to you. Save this number immediately. Take a screenshot of it. Write it down. Without this reference number, your complaint is effectively a ghost; you will never be able to track its status or follow up.

Three Full Copy-Paste Complaint Templates

Do not stare at the blank description box wondering what to write. Use these templates. We have structured them to highlight the exact regulatory violations that make RBI officials pay attention.

Copy the text, fill in the bracketed [information], and paste it into the Sachet description box.

Template 1: The Harassment & Extortion Complaint

Use this when a registered NBFC or a known app is using abusive tactics, calling your contacts, or threatening you.

Subject: Complaint regarding extreme recovery harassment and violation of Fair Practices Code by [App Name / NBFC Name]

To the Respected Authority,

On [DD-MM-YYYY], I downloaded the digital lending application "[App Name]" (Google Play Store Package ID: [com.example.loan]) and was disbursed an amount of ₹[Amount] into my bank account. The Key Fact Statement (KFS) [was / was not] provided to me prior to execution of the contract.

Beginning on [Date harassment started], the recovery agents representing this lender initiated severe harassment tactics, directly violating the RBI Fair Practices Code and the Digital Lending Guidelines 2022.

Specific violations include:

1. Calling from unregistered mobile numbers outside permitted hours (e.g., at [Time] on [Date] from [Phone Number]).
2. Using severely abusive and unparliamentary language.
3. Contacting individuals in my phone address book who are neither guarantors nor parties to this loan, thereby breaching my data privacy.
4. Threatening to file fraudulent FIRs and physically harm me.

I have attached screenshots of WhatsApp threats, call logs, and audio recordings of the abusive calls as evidence. I request the RBI to investigate this entity for gross violations of recovery guidelines and initiate appropriate regulatory action.

Template 2: The Illegal/Unregistered Lender Complaint

Use this when the app is completely fake, offers 7-day loans, charges exorbitant processing fees upfront, and has no registered NBFC backing.

Subject: Report of unauthorized digital lending, extortion, and 7-day trap by unregistered app "[App Name]"

To the Respected Authority,

I am writing to report an unauthorized digital lending platform operating under the name "[App Name]" (Google Play Store Package ID: [com.example.fakeapp]).

On [DD-MM-YYYY], I applied for a loan through this app. Without showing any loan agreement, sanction letter, or Key Fact Statement, they disbursed ₹[Disbursed Amount] to my account, immediately deducting an illegal, exorbitant upfront processing fee of ₹[Fee Amount].

The app enforces an illegal 7-day repayment tenure. On the 5th day itself, their agents began extorting me for repayment of a highly inflated amount of ₹[Demanded Amount].

Upon checking, this app does not display any valid RBI-registered NBFC partner on its platform or in its communications. They are operating an illegal, unauthorized lending syndicate. They are currently resorting to blackmail, threatening to morph my photos and send them to my contact list.

I have filed a cybercrime complaint (Acknowledgment No: [If applicable]). I have attached disbursement proofs and extortion screenshots here. I urge the RBI/SLCC to investigate this unauthorized entity and coordinate with MeitY for the immediate takedown of this application to protect other citizens.

Template 3: The KYC Misuse / Identity Fraud Complaint

Use this when you check your CIBIL report and see a loan you never took, meaning an app has stolen your PAN/Aadhaar data.

Subject: Complaint regarding KYC misuse and fraudulent loan disbursement by [NBFC Name / App Name]

To the Respected Authority,

During a routine check of my credit report on [Date], I discovered an active loan account (Account Number: [Loan Account Number]) reported by [NBFC Name].

I state categorically that I have never applied for, authorized, or received any disbursement for this loan facility. My KYC documents (PAN and Aadhaar) have been misused by an unauthorized digital lending platform or internal agents of the aforementioned NBFC to create a fraudulent loan account in my name.

This represents a severe failure of the lender's KYC verification process and a breach of the RBI Master Direction on KYC.

I have already raised a dispute with the credit bureau and filed a report regarding identity theft on the national cybercrime portal.

I request the RBI to direct the concerned NBFC to investigate this fraudulent account, immediately cease any reporting of this fake loan to credit bureaus, remove the fraudulent entry from my CIBIL report, and audit their digital onboarding processes to prevent further identity theft. Evidence of the credit report entry is attached.

What Happens After Filing? (The Timeline)

Once you hit submit, tension mat lo, but also do not expect an immediate phone call from the RBI governor. The bureaucratic machinery moves at its own pace. Here is a realistic timeline of what happens behind the scenes.

• Day 1 to Day 7: The Acknowledgement Phase. You will receive an automated email containing your reference number. During this week, the Sachet backend system does a preliminary review. They check if the complaint is complete and if it falls under their jurisdiction. If you complained about a regulated bank, they might close it and email you a link to the CMS portal instead.
• Day 8 to Day 30: The Routing and Forwarding Phase. If the entity is a registered NBFC, Sachet forwards the complaint to the specific RBI regional office or the Consumer Education and Protection Department (CEPD). The RBI then issues a notice to the nodal officer of that NBFC, demanding an explanation for the harassment or KYC failure. If the entity is an unregistered/illegal app, the complaint is bundled and forwarded to the State Level Coordination Committee (SLCC). The SLCC includes members from state police (EOW) and other regulators.
• Day 30 to Day 60: The Response Phase. Regulated lenders are legally bound to respond to RBI notices. You may suddenly receive an email from the NBFC's grievance officer apologizing for the "inconvenience" and stating that the rogue recovery agency has been fired. If it is an illegal app, this is the timeframe where the RBI/SLCC may issue a formal recommendation to the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) to block the app's package ID on Indian networks and the Google Play Store.
• Day 60+: The Escalation Phase. If a registered lender ignores the notice, or if their resolution is unsatisfactory (e.g., they refuse to remove a fake loan from your CIBIL), you now have the official grounds to escalate the matter to the Banking Ombudsman through the CMS portal, citing your Sachet reference number as proof that you tried the primary regulatory route first.

What Sachet Won't Do (And the Faster Route for Emergencies)

Ye samajhna zaroori hai: Sachet is a regulatory tool, not a rapid-response emergency service.

Sachet will not refund your money. If you were scammed out of processing fees, the RBI does not write you a cheque. Recovering lost funds requires a police investigation, freezing of the scammer's bank accounts, and a court order.

Sachet will not immediately stop the phone calls. Filing a complaint on Tuesday morning does not mean the recovery agents' phones will magically stop working on Tuesday afternoon.

Sachet will not directly fix your CIBIL score. While Sachet can penalize an NBFC for KYC failures, the actual process of removing a "Settled" tag or a fake loan requires a formal dispute through CIBIL or the specific credit bureau. You can learn more about managing your credit profile at our /cibil hub.

The Faster Route for Active Threats

If recovery agents are actively calling your family, sending morphed photos, or making criminal threats, don't wait for Sachet. You must initiate parallel action:

1. Cybercrime Portal: Go to cybercrime.gov.in immediately. If financial fraud just occurred, call 1930. The cyber police have mechanisms to freeze accounts rapidly.
2. Local Police Station: Dial 112 or visit your nearest station. At the very least, insist on filing a Non-Cognisable Report (NCR) for criminal intimidation and harassment. You need this police record to protect yourself legally if the agents try to claim you are a willful defaulter.
3. Then, file on Sachet. Once your immediate safety and police reporting are handled, sit down and file the Sachet complaint so the regulator can take systemic action against the company backing the agents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I file a Sachet complaint anonymously?

No. The Sachet portal explicitly requires you to provide your real name, contact details, and a valid government ID number (like PAN or Aadhaar). The Reserve Bank of India needs to verify that a genuine citizen is filing the grievance. However, your identity details are kept strictly within the regulatory framework and are not published publicly or handed over to illegal entities to further harass you.

What is the maximum file size for evidence uploads on Sachet?

While the exact limit can occasionally fluctuate based on portal updates, the standard maximum file size for uploads on Sachet is generally restricted to 5MB per file. This means you cannot upload uncompressed 20-minute video recordings. Stick to PDF documents for KFS and bank statements, JPEG/PNG for screenshots, and heavily compressed MP3 or WAV files for audio recordings.

Will filing on Sachet automatically fix my CIBIL score?

No, it is not an automatic fix. Sachet alerts the regulator to the misconduct (like a fake loan created via KYC misuse). The RBI may penalize the NBFC, but to actually clean your credit report, you must raise a formal dispute directly with TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, or Equifax, using the police complaint and your Sachet reference number as supporting evidence that the loan is fraudulent.

Do I need a lawyer to file a complaint on Sachet?

Absolutely not. The Sachet portal is designed for everyday consumers. You do not need legal representation, and there are no fees to file a complaint. Simply use the step-by-step guide and the copy-paste templates provided above to clearly state the facts of your case. Keep your description factual, chronological, and free of unnecessary emotional language.

Next Steps

Dealing with predatory loan apps is exhausting, but using the right tools makes a massive difference.

If you are unsure whether the app harassing you is registered or illegal, use our HeyZ AI chat. It can guide you through the right channel for your specific situation in real-time. If you want to check if the interest rates you are being charged are even legal under current RBI caps, run the numbers through our Sahi Rate calculator.

Take a deep breath, gather your evidence, and use Sachet to hit these predatory lenders where it hurts—their regulatory standing.

Disclaimer: This is informational only. We are an independent watchdog, not lawyers. For active criminal threats, contact the police immediately.