Have you ever tried to withdraw cash from an ATM and the machine showed an error, but the money still got deducted from your account? Or made an online payment that failed, but the amount was debited anyway? Such failed transactions are more common than you might think. And the worst part? Waiting days — or even weeks — for the money to be refunded, with no clear answers from the bank. That’s exactly why the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced strict guidelines to protect customers like you. Now, banks must follow fixed deadlines to refund money after failed transactions — and if they don’t, they have to pay you ₹100 per day as a penalty . Let’s break down everything you need to know. What Happens When a Transaction Fails? A failed transaction means a payment or withdrawal doesn’t go through, but the money is still debited from your bank account. This can happen due to: Network failures ATM errors Technical glitches in payment systems Bank server issues...