Published May 21, 2026 4 Min Read

What are late payment charges and penal interest at Bajaj Finance

When a monthly loan instalment is missed, the automated accounting framework logs the processing failure on the exact calendar due date. Bajaj Finance applies specific non-compliance penalties to cover administrative costs and address credit risk. These charges consist of a fixed transaction bounce penalty and a variable penal interest rate calculated on the specific overdue sum.

Lenders must ensure that these charges remain completely reasonable and proportionate to the default amount. In line with fair lending guidelines, these penalties are never capitalized, meaning no interest is ever computed on the accumulated penalty fees.

Penalty component metricFixed or variable cost structureOperational calculation rule
Mandate bounce chargeFixed rate of Rs. 500 per instance.Levied automatically on the ledger each time a NACH debit fails to clear.
Penal interest rateCharged up to 24% per annum on the overdue portion.Calculated daily on the specific unpaid instalment from the due date until settled.
Goods and services taxStandard rate of 18% applied universally.Collected on top of all accumulated bounce charges and late payment fees.

 

When a late fee waiver is possible at Bajaj Finance

Requesting a waiver for accumulated penalty fees is an extraordinary appeal process rather than a standard contractual right. Bajaj Finance evaluates every waiver application on a case-by-case basis through its internal credit committee, focusing on specific extreme scenarios:

  • Documented medical emergencies: Severe health crises or sudden hospitalisation that completely disrupted your ability to access banking networks or authorize manual transactions during the billing cycle.
  • Verified technical network failures: Systemic interbank clearing delays, central banking grid downtimes, or documented employer payroll system crashes that delayed salary credits.
  • Sudden involuntary job loss: Unexpected corporate restructuring or layout exercises that cut off your primary source of income, verified by a formal termination notice.
  • Demise of the primary breadwinner: The untimely passing of the primary earning member or co-applicant, requiring immediate legal restructuring of the retail credit line.

 

Late fee waiver request letter format (ready-to-use template)


A formal penalty adjustment appeal must be submitted as a structured, professional communication. The letter should clearly outline your active account credentials, state the specific reasons behind the transaction failure, and present a clear proposal to settle the core debt.

You can customize this compliant, ready-to-use template to submit your official appeal to the debt management desk:


To,

The Branch Manager / Risk Credit Committee,

Bajaj Finance Limited.

Subject: Request for waiver of late payment fees and penal interest for loan account number [Insert Account Number]

Sir / Madam,

I am writing to formally request a waiver of the accumulated late payment charges and penal interest levied on my retail loan account, which total Rs. [Insert Amount]. My scheduled monthly EMI of Rs. [Insert EMI Amount] due on [Insert Due Date] was delayed because of unexpected and severe financial distress caused by [State your genuine reason clearly, such as sudden medical emergency or involuntary job loss].

Due to these unforeseen circumstances, I was temporarily unable to maintain my standard payment timeline. I have now managed to arrange the necessary funds, and I am fully prepared to clear the base overdue instalment of Rs. [Insert EMI Amount] immediately. I have attached the relevant supporting documents, including [Mention your proof, such as hospital reports or salary slips], to verify my genuine distress.

Given my consistent past repayment record, I request you to kindly waive the accumulated bounce penalties and penal interest to help me regularize my account profile without facing an extra financial burden.

Thank you for considering my appeal.

Yours faithfully,

[Insert Your Full Name]

[Insert Registered Mobile Number]

[Insert Registered Email Address]

 

Key phrases and documents that strengthen your waiver request


Using precise, professional terminology and attaching indisputable documentary evidence significantly improves the chances of your appeal being approved by the risk monitoring desk:

  • Involuntary income disruption: Use this phrase when describing unexpected job termination, and back it up with an official pink slip or corporate separation letter.
  • Temporary cash flow mismatch: Deploy this term for delayed salary credits, and attach certified bank account statements showing the delayed deposit pattern.
  • Unforeseen medical emergency: Use this phrasing for health crises, and provide official hospital admission certificates, medical case sheets, and pharmacy bills.
  • Request to regularize account: Include this statement to demonstrate your clear intent to clear your base debt, supported by a digital copy of your manual payment receipt.

How to submit a late fee waiver request on My Account portal

The quickest way to forward your formal appeal letter and supporting evidence to the credit operations desk is through digital self-service channels. This ensures your request is logged instantly into the tracking system, bypassing manual courier delays.


Follow this structured process to submit your request online:

  • Access the customer portal: Open the official Bajaj Finance website or mobile app and sign in using your primary mobile number and an OTP.
  • Locate your active account: Select your specific overdue vehicle or consumer durable loan account number from the primary account summary grid.
  • Open a specialized service request: Click on the "Help and Support" tab and select the "Request for Late Fee Waiver" option from the drop-down menu.
  • Upload your written appeal: Attach a clear, scanned digital copy of your signed request letter in a standard PDF or JPEG format.
  • Submit your verified proof: Upload all supporting financial statements or medical certificates to allow the automated system to route your file to the credit desk.

 

What to do if your first waiver request is rejected


If your initial penalty adjustment application is turned down by the early-stage customer outreach desk, you can escalate your case through structured grievance channels:

  • Request a formal detailed reason: Ask for a written explanation from the credit desk to understand if your application lacked sufficient documentary proof.
  • Compile additional verifiable evidence: Secure additional documents, such as official employer letters, to fill any information gaps identified in the initial review.
  • Escalate to the grievance redressal officer: Submit your updated case file to the institutional Principal Grievance Redressal Officer via the official online escalation form.
  • Propose a partial settlement layout: Offer to pay a portion of the accumulated bounce fees immediately if the company agrees to waive the remaining daily penal interest balance.
  • Maintain your base monthly payments: Continue paying your regular upcoming instalments on time to show your continuous commitment to honor the contract terms during the review phase.

 

RBI guidelines on penal charges: Your rights as a borrower


The central bank enforces strict regulations regarding how financial institutions structure and collect non-compliance penalties. These rules ensure complete professional transparency across the formal financial sector. Lenders are required to treat penalty fees strictly as a corrective measure to encourage discipline, rather than as an aggressive revenue-generation tool.

Under these central bank directives, institutions are barred from introducing subjective or variable structures for late fees. The exact bounce penalty and daily interest rates must be clearly defined in your signed loan contract right from the start. Furthermore, lenders cannot capitalize these charges, which means they are strictly prohibited from calculating interest on top of accumulated penalty fees. If you experience unfair or hidden penalty practices, you have the right to escalate your case directly to the central bank's Banking Ombudsman after 30 days of filing an internal complaint.

 

Repeated EMI delays reduce your chances of getting a waiver

Your historical payment track record is the most critical metric evaluated by the risk management team when reviewing a penalty waiver request. If your account history shows a repetitive pattern of bounced transactions or continuous delays, the automated evaluation engine flags your profile as a high credit risk.

Lenders reserve waiver approvals strictly for customers who maintain a clean repayment record and face an isolated, genuine emergency. A continuous history of defaults indicates a chronic lack of financial discipline rather than a temporary cash crunch. This pattern prompts the system to reject your appeal automatically, meaning all accumulated bounce fees and high daily penal interest rates must be cleared in full before your account can return to a standard status.

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How to complain

Frequently asked questions

Will requesting a late fee waiver affect my CIBIL score or loan account standing?

No, simply submitting a waiver request does not lower your CIBIL score or alter your account standing. However, your profile will remain in an active default status with accumulating daily penalties until you pay the core overdue EMI amount or Bajaj Finance officially approves and processes your adjustment appeal.

What are the RBI rules about penal charges on loan accounts?

Under central bank rules, penal charges must be treated strictly as a corrective measure, not as a revenue tool. Lenders cannot introduce subjective rates or calculate interest on top of accumulated penalties, ensuring complete transparency and preventing the capitalization of late fees across the financial sector.

How many times can I request a penalty waiver from Bajaj Finserv in a year?

Bajaj Finance does not specify a fixed annual limit for waiver requests, as each application is reviewed individually on its own merits. However, since approvals are reserved strictly for isolated, genuine financial emergencies, submitting multiple requests within a single year will flag your account as a high credit risk.

What are my options if Bajaj Finserv rejects my penal interest waiver request?

If your initial request is rejected, you can escalate your case to the institutional Principal Grievance Redressal Officer with fresh supporting evidence. Alternatively, you can propose a partial settlement layout to clear the base debt or escalate the matter to the RBI Banking Ombudsman if you experience unfair practices.

Can Bajaj Finserv waive penal interest if I missed an EMI for the first time?

Yes, Bajaj Finance can waive your penal interest if you miss an instalment for the first time. The risk monitoring desk reviews your clean historical repayment track record favorably, making them much more likely to approve a one-time penalty adjustment if you clear the base EMI balance immediately.

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