Recovery Agent Calling Hours in India — What RBI Rules Say
Published: 18 August 2026 | By Loan Free Financial Services Advisory Team
What time can recovery agents call in India?
Recovery agents in India are permitted to contact borrowers only between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM. This is mandated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Fair Practices Code, applicable to all banks and NBFCs regulated by the RBI. Any contact — calls, visits or messages — outside this window is a violation and can be reported to the lender's grievance officer and the RBI Banking Ombudsman.
If you are receiving calls from bank or NBFC recovery agents at 6 AM, or 9 PM, or in the middle of the night, this article tells you exactly what the law says, what you can do about it, and how to document and report violations effectively.
The exact RBI rule on recovery agent calling hours
The RBI's Fair Practices Code for Lenders and the associated guidelines on Recovery Agents (issued under the Banking Regulation Act and RBI Act) state clearly:
This rule applies to:
- All scheduled commercial banks (public sector, private sector, foreign banks).
- All Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) regulated by the RBI.
- All digital lending apps associated with RBI-regulated entities.
- All third-party recovery agencies acting on behalf of the above.
What else are recovery agents prohibited from doing?
Beyond calling hours, the RBI Fair Practices Code prohibits recovery agents from:
- Using abusive, threatening or obscene language.
- Making anonymous calls — they must identify themselves and the lender.
- Contacting your family members, friends or employer to embarrass you or pressure repayment.
- Visiting your residence or workplace without prior intimation.
- Misrepresenting themselves as law enforcement or lawyers.
- Making threatening calls in the middle of the night (clearly outside the 8 AM–7 PM window).
- Using physical intimidation or violence during home visits — this is additionally a criminal offence.
Digital lending app harassment
Digital lending app recovery is additionally governed by the RBI Digital Lending Directions (issued in 2022, updated 2025), which further prohibit recovery agents of digital lending apps from:
- Accessing your phone's contact list, call logs or gallery — any app doing this is likely operating outside regulations.
- Sending messages to your contacts to shame or threaten you.
- Displaying your personal data publicly or using it for unauthorised purposes.
What to do if a recovery agent calls outside permitted hours
Document the violation
Screenshot your call log showing the time and number. Note the date, time, caller name (if given), what was said and whether it was threatening. Save all evidence.
File complaint with lender
Write a formal complaint to the lender's designated Grievance Redressal Officer (details on the lender's website). Include your account details, the date, time and nature of the violation.
Escalate to RBI Ombudsman
If the lender does not resolve within 30 days, escalate to the RBI Ombudsman via cms.rbi.org.in or call 14448. There is no fee to file a complaint.
Police complaint for criminal conduct
If the agent made criminal threats, used abusive language or intimidated you physically, file an FIR at your nearest police station. Provide your call log evidence. This is additionally a criminal matter under IPC provisions.
Frequently asked questions
Recovery agents can only call between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM under the RBI Fair Practices Code, applicable to all banks and NBFCs in India. Calls outside this window are a violation.
No. Calls before 8:00 AM and after 7:00 PM are prohibited. Night calls are a clear violation of RBI rules and should be documented and reported.
Document the call (screenshot, time, date, number). File a written complaint with the lender's Grievance Redressal Officer. If unresolved in 30 days, escalate to the RBI Ombudsman at cms.rbi.org.in or call 14448. For criminal threats, file a police FIR.
Yes. Digital lending apps associated with RBI-regulated entities are bound by both the RBI Fair Practices Code and the RBI Digital Lending Directions (2022/2025). Recovery contact is restricted to 8:00 AM–7:00 PM. Additional rules prohibit access to your contact list, sending messages to your contacts, and other harassment tactics.