What is a UPI AutoPay Mandate?
UPI AutoPay is a feature created by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) that lets you authorise recurring payments for services directly from your bank account using any UPI app. When you subscribe to a service like an OTT platform, a digital
magazine, or a mutual fund SIP, you create a 'mandate'. This mandate is a standing instruction you give your bank, via the UPI app, to allow a specific merchant to debit a certain amount of money at a set frequency. The first transaction always requires your UPI PIN for authorisation. After that, payments up to a certain limit (typically ₹15,000) are debited automatically without needing a PIN each time.
Why You Should Regularly Review Your Mandates
The convenience of 'set it and forget it' is also its biggest risk. It's easy to sign up for a free trial, forget to cancel, and end up paying for a service you no longer use. These small, forgotten debits can add up over time. Regularly auditing your active mandates helps you spot and cancel unwanted subscriptions, prevent unexpected deductions when your account balance is low, and maintain full control over your finances. Think of it as a digital equivalent of cleaning out your wallet — it ensures you are only paying for what you truly value.
How to Find Your Active Mandates
Finding all your mandates can be tricky because they are often only visible within the app where they were created. Until a unified dashboard becomes available across all apps, you'll need to check each one you use. The specific path can vary slightly, but you are generally looking for a section named 'AutoPay', 'Mandates', or 'Automatic Payments'. On Google Pay (GPay): Tap your profile picture in the top right, then select 'AutoPay'. You'll see tabs for 'Live', 'Pending', and 'Completed' mandates. On PhonePe: Tap your profile picture in the top left, go to the 'Payment Management' section, and select 'AutoPay'. * On Paytm: Tap your profile icon, navigate to 'UPI & Payment Settings', and then select 'UPI Automatic Payments'. For a comprehensive view, you can also check your bank's official mobile app, which often has a 'Mandates' or 'UPI Mandates' section. The NPCI has also launched a central portal (upihelp.npci.org.in) where users can view and manage all their UPI mandates in one place.
Cancelling an Unwanted UPI Mandate: A Step-by-Step Guide
Once you have located an active mandate you wish to stop, the cancellation process is straightforward. While the exact button name might differ ('Cancel', 'Revoke', or 'Disable'), the steps are largely the same across all platforms. 1. Select the Mandate: Navigate to the 'AutoPay' or 'Mandates' section in your app and tap on the active subscription you want to cancel. 2. Choose to Cancel: Look for an option that says 'Cancel AutoPay', 'Revoke Mandate', or something similar. Some apps may also offer a 'Pause' option to temporarily halt payments. 3. Confirm with UPI PIN: To complete the cancellation, you will be required to enter your UPI PIN. This is a security measure to ensure that only you can make changes to your mandates. 4. Verify the Cancellation: After successful cancellation, the mandate should move from the 'Live' or 'Active' list to the 'Completed' or 'Inactive' section. Always double-check to confirm the status has changed.
Important Points to Remember After Cancelling
Cancelling the UPI AutoPay mandate only stops future payments from being debited from your bank account. It does not automatically cancel your underlying subscription with the merchant. If you have a service contract, you may need to visit the merchant's website or app to formally end your subscription to avoid follow-ups or potential service issues. Also, it's wise to cancel a mandate at least 24-48 hours before the next scheduled payment date to ensure the debit instruction is stopped in time. Keep an eye on your bank statement for the next billing cycle to confirm that no further deductions have been made.
