Rs 3 lakh debited ‘without authorisation’, Punjab woman wins bank refund, Rs 20,000

A Punjab woman has won Rs 3 lakh in a refund from her bank after an unauthorized online transaction debited her account, according to a recent consumer commission decision. The bank was ordered to pay Rs 15,000 for mental harassment and Rs 5,000 in litigation costs. The complainant reported the incident to the police and the bank immediately but was unable to resolve the issue.

The bank claimed that the transaction was authorized using two-factor authentication, despite the woman not having authorized it. The commission held the bank liable for deficiencies in service and unfair trade practices, directing it to refund the woman's money and compensate her for the mental distress caused.