The Car is Parked at Home, But You Are Loosing Money Through Unexplained FASTag Deductions? Here’s Why and How to Fix It
Imagine your car sitting idle in your garage, yet money is being deducted from your FASTag account. Sounds bizarre, right? This is the reality for many car owners across the country who have been facing unexplained FASTag deductions. The good news? The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has cracked down on the issue and provided a solution to this frustrating problem.
The Mystery Behind False FASTag Deductions
The issue arises when toll plaza machines fail to scan a vehicle’s FASTag. To avoid long queues, toll operators manually note down the vehicle’s number plate and process the payment later. However, human error often creeps in—a digit or two might be incorrectly noted, leading to deductions from the wrong FASTag account. If your car’s number plate happens to match the incorrectly entered details, your account gets charged, even if you haven’t used the highway in months.
NHAI’s Crackdown on Toll Operators
After receiving numerous complaints, NHAI investigated the matter and found that the root cause was negligence by toll operators. To curb this, NHAI imposed hefty fines on operators for every such error. So far, over 250 operators have been fined ₹1 lakh per mistake. This strict action has led to a 70% reduction in false deductions, proving that the issue was largely due to carelessness.
What Should You Do If You’re Affected?
If you notice unauthorized deductions from your FASTag account, don’t panic. NHAI has a straightforward process to resolve the issue:
- Call NHAI’s toll-free number 1033 and report the problem.
- Alternatively, email your complaint to [email protected].
- Provide details like your car’s registration number, the date and time of the deduction, and any other relevant information from your FASTag statement.
Once your complaint is registered, NHAI will investigate the matter, and if the deduction is found to be incorrect, the amount will be refunded to your account.
A Relief for FASTag Users
This move by NHAI has brought much-needed relief to countless FASTag users who were losing money due to no fault of their own. While the system isn’t perfect, the authority’s proactive approach ensures that such errors are minimized, and users have a clear path to reclaim their funds.
So, the next time you see an unexpected deduction, remember—it’s not a scam, just a human error, and NHAI has your back.
