Grievance Redressal Policy - NPS
Information
| Document | Classification | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grievance Redressal Policy-NPS | Confidential | 1.11 | Approved |
Version History, Verification and Approval:
| Date | Version | Description of Change | Owner | Approved By | Board Approval Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 30, 2022 (Date of preparation) | 1.0 | 1st Policy prepared | Somnath Mukherjee | Board | 16th May 2023 |
1. Background
Customer satisfaction is core to any service industry. With this perspective it is imperative that an organization have an investor grievance policy to set forth the policy on all types of queries / complaints received and methodology for quick redressal of the same. The policy also lays down the responsibility and turn-around time for redressal of such queries / complaints taking into consideration the regulatory timelines and redressal mechanisms.
2. Definition of Complaint in terms of Regulation 2(g) of PFRDA (REDRESSAL OF SUBSCRIBER GRIEVANCE REGULATIONS) 2015
“Grievances or Complaint” includes any communication that expresses dissatisfaction, in respect of the conduct or any act of omission or commission or deficiency of service on the part of, an intermediary or an entity or a person governed by the provisions of the Act and in the nature of seeking a remedial action but do not include the following
- i. complaints that are incomplete or not specific in nature;
- ii. communications in the nature of offering suggestions;
- iii. communications seeking guidance or explanation;
- iv. complaints which are beyond the powers and functions of the Authority or beyond the provisions of the Act and the rules and regulations framed thereunder;
- v. any disputes between intermediaries; and
- vi. complaints that are sub-judice (cases which are under consideration by court of law or quasi-judicial body) except matters within the exclusive domain of the Authority under the provisions of the Act; Accordingly, communications received from the subscribers with regard to Clause 2 (i to vi) shall not be considered as complaints.
3. Intimation to Subscribers on Grievance Redressal policy/mechanism
In terms of Regulation 4(c) of PFRDA (REDRESSAL OF SUBSCRIBER GRIEVANCE REGULATIONS) 2015, the following will be informed to the Subscribers:
- i. the subscribers’ right to seek redressal of any complaints, through the redressal mechanism as specified under PFRDA (REDRESSAL OF SUBSCRIBER GRIEVANCE REGULATIONS) 2015; and
- ii. the processes followed by Zerodha Broking Limited under the National Pension System and other pension scheme regulated by PFRDA, to receive and redress complaints from subscribers;
4. Scope of the Policy
The policy aims to address the following:
a) Complaint handling procedures
b) Acknowledgement to subscriber or Complainant
c) Response to the subscriber and turnaround time(TAT)
5. Complaint Handling Procedure
Level 1
The Subscriber has a right to seek redressal for the services offered by Zerodha Broking Limited. If a Subscriber has any grievance / complaint, the Subscriber can approach the Support portal via tickets on the website of the company.
Level 2
If the Subscriber’s issue is unresolved after a period of 15 days from the date of first raising the issue at Level 1 or if the subscriber is not satisfied with the response provided at Level 1, the Subscriber may, post completion of a 15 day period from the date of first raising the issue at Level 1, write to the Grievance Redressal Officer at: [email protected]. The Grievance Redressal Officer shall be the Designated Senior Management Executive, in terms Clause 4 of “Guidelines for grievance redressal by an Intermediary of NPS” issued by PFRDA
If the complaint is not resolved at Level 2 or if the subscriber is not satisfied with Zerodha’s grievance redressal, the subscriber, may approach CGMS by contacting CRA Subscriber Care (Toll free Number 18002081516) or at: https://nps.kfintech.com/registergrievanceenquiry/registergrievanceenquiry/
PRAN details must be filled in if available. If not, POP registration details must be provided. Grievance details can be filled into the form, and supporting documents to be uploaded.
Once the complaint is submitted, a token number is displayed on the screen. This number must be noted for future reference and tracking of the complaint.
6. Acknowledgement of Complainant
A correspondence either by letter, Chat or E-mail or any other channel of communication be made with the investor who has submitted a written query / complaint acknowledging receipt of the complaint within 3 working days of the receipt of the complaint. Acknowledgement to contain Date of receipt of complaint/grievance, Unique Grievance Number, Expected date for resolution of grievance, Name, Designation and Contact details of Officer, Grievance escalation matrix with contact details and address (includes organizational levels, NPS Trust and Ombudsman) and manner and mode of tracking resolution of grievance/complaint with the Unique Grievance Number.
7. Response to Complainant
On receipt of the complaint the following curse of action shall be followed:
Zerodha Broking Limited endeavors to address and resolve all complaints received from an aggrieved investor within the regulatory TAT of 30 days.
a) As recorded in clause 6 above, the acknowledgement of the complaint shall be sent to the subscriber within a maximum period of three (3) working days and the date of sending acknowledgement to the subscriber shall be updated in CGMS.
b) Details of the complaints received (resolved and open), if any, shall also be placed before the Board of Directors of the Company for information and record.
c) In case the matter referred by subscriber does not pertain to the intermediary, the procedure of transferring the grievance/complaint to the relevant intermediary under intimation to the subscriber within a maximum period of three (3) working days.
d) The Nodal Offices [such as District Treasury Offices (DTOs)/ Pay and Accounts Offices (PAOs)/Point of Presence (POP) Service Providers or equivalent entities] may also raise a grievance in the CGMS against CRA on behalf of the subscribers.
e) If the grievance/complaint is resolved within a period of three (3) days from the date of receipt of grievance/complaint, the acknowledgement along with the resolution shall be intimated to the subscriber.
f) The unresolved grievance/ complaints/ escalations, if any, shall be tackled as per the process recorded in clause 5 above.
g) Manner in which the subscriber shall be intimated on resolution of grievance/complaint.
h) The intimation to subscriber for resolution of grievance/complaint should contain the Date of receipt of complaint/grievance, Unique Grievance Number, Name, Designation and Contact details of Officer signing the communication, procedure of representing the mater to NPS Trust (contact details and address) and further right to approach Ombudsman and PFRDA in case of non-satisfactory resolution of grievance, within the time specified in the regulation.
8. Escalation of Grievances to NPS Trust
(1) Any subscriber whose grievance has not been resolved within thirty days from the date of receipt of the grievance by the intermediary, or who is not satisfied with the resolution provided by any intermediary under the National Pension System (other than National Pension System Trust) shall register a grievance with the National Pension System Trust, against such intermediary. The National Pension System Trust shall follow up the grievance with the concerned intermediary for redressal of the subscriber grievance. The National Pension System Trust shall call for the resolution of the subscriber grievance and respond to the subscriber within thirty days from the date of receipt of the grievance under this sub-regulation, about the resolution of the grievances.
(2) The subscriber whose grievance has not been resolved by the intermediary within thirty days from the date of submission of the grievance to the National Pension System Trust, or who is not satisfied with the resolution provided by the National Pension System Trust may appeal to the Ombudsman against the concerned intermediary or entity.
At present there is only one Ombudsman appointed by PFRDA. Shri Arnab Roy is appointed as Ombudsman by PFRDA. The details of the ombudsman are as follows.
Address:
The details of the Ombudsman appointed are also available on PFRDA website – www.pfrda.org.in.
(3) Nothing contained in Point (1) shall apply to a grievance which is directly against the National Pension System Trust, and it shall be resolved by the National Pension System Trust in accordance with the provisions of regulation 6.
9. Closure of grievance:
In terms of Regulation 7 of PFRDA (REDRESSAL OF SUBSCRIBER GRIEVANCE REGULATIONS) 2015, the grievance shall be considered as disposed off and closed in any of the following instances:
a) when Zerodha Broking Limited has acceded to the request of the complainant fully;
b) where the complainant has indicated in writing, its acceptance of the response of Zerodha Broking Limited
c) where the complainant has not responded within forty-five days of the receipt of the written response of the Zerodha Broking Limited;
d) where the Grievance Redressal Officer has certified under intimation to the subscriber that Zerodha Broking Limited has discharged its contractual, statutory and regulatory obligations and therefore closes the complaint;
e) where the complainant has not preferred any appeal within forty-five days from the date of receipt of resolution or rejection of the grievance communicated by Zerodha Broking Limited;
f) where the decision of the Ombudsman in appeal has been communicated to such a complainant: Provided that the closure shall not be applicable where the Ombudsman or the Authority, as the case may be, has allowed filing of the appeal, beyond the specified period.
10. Categorization of complaints:
In terms of Regulation 8 of PFRDA (REDRESSAL OF SUBSCRIBER GRIEVANCE REGULATIONS) 2015, Zerodha Broking Limited shall maintain categorization of the complaints as specified by the Regulator from time to time.
11. Submission of Reports to the Regulator:
In terms of Regulation 6(9) of PFRDA (REDRESSAL OF SUBSCRIBER GRIEVANCE REGULATIONS) 2015, Zerodha Broking Limited shall submit periodic reports to the National Pension System Trust or Authority as may be specified from time to time.
12. Maintenance of records:
a) Maintenance of records of grievance/complaint received, resolution and closure.
b) Compliance for submission of periodical reports to the Authority/NPS Trust.
c) Procedure of updating complaints in CGMS platform within a maximum period of one (01) working day after sending intimation of resolution to the subscriber. Generation of unique grievance numbers using the CGMS platform hosted by the Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA) for records and tracking.
13. Display of Grievance Redressal Policy
In terms of Regulation 4(f) of PFRDA (REDRESSAL OF SUBSCRIBER GRIEVANCE REGULATIONS) 2015, the policy is required to be displayed in the public domain and preferably displayed in Hindi, English and other applicable regional languages in the office(s). Accordingly, the Grievance Redressal Policy shall be displayed on Zerodha Broking Limited’s website and also displayed at Zerodha Broking Limited Principal/Business Office in English and Hindi language. The policy shall also be made available to subscribers during the first interaction with the officials of Zerodha Broking Limited.
14. Filing the Grievance Redressal Policy with the Regulator
In terms of Regulation 3(3) of PFRDA (REDRESSAL OF SUBSCRIBER GRIEVANCE REGULATIONS) 2015, the ‘NPS Grievance Redressal Policy’ of Zerodha Broking Limited shall be filed with the NPS/PFRDA as the case may be upon obtaining approval from its Board.
15. Review of Grievance Redressal Policy
The Policy shall be reviewed annually or as and when any new requirement is specified by the Regulator.
16. Relevant Circulars
Details of the ombudsman are as under:
Address: