RBI launches Ombudsman Scheme for NBFCs

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched Ombudsman Scheme for redressal of complaints against the Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs). The scheme will provide a cost-free and expeditious complaint redressal mechanism relating to deficiency in the services by NBFCs covered under the scheme. The scheme will cover all deposit-taking NBFCs, and based on the experience gained. The scheme will initially cover all deposit-taking NBFCs, and will subsequently include companies with asset size of Rs 100 crore and above with customer interface. Additionally, the mechanism will provide an option to the NBFC in question to appeal against the decision of the Ombudsman before the appellate authority. The NBFC Ombudsman will have offices in four cities – New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata – and will handle complaints of customers in the respective zones.