How to check a recovery agent's ID and authorisation

To check a recovery agent's ID, ask to see their identity card and the lender's authorisation letter, photograph both, and confirm the agency with your lender through its official website or customer care. Do this before you discuss your loan or pay anything. This guide is for anyone who has been visited or called by someone claiming to collect a loan, and gives a checklist for spotting fake agents.

What a recovery agent should show you

RBI's Directions of 6 August 2026, effective 1 January 2027, require an agent to display an identity card when visiting, and to carry an authorisation letter and a copy of the lender's notice. Existing RBI guidance already expects agents to carry identification and the lender's authorisation.

How to check a recovery agent's ID in 5 steps

1. 1Ask for the ID card and letter, and photograph them. A genuine agent has no reason to refuse.
2. 2Ask for the lender's name and your loan account number. Compare them with your own loan papers or app.
3. 3Find the lender's customer care or grievance contact on its official website. Do not use the number on the agent's paper.
4. 4Ask the lender to confirm in writing that this agency handles your account.
5. 5Check the lender's list of recovery agencies on its website. This becomes mandatory from 1 January 2027, and some lenders may publish it earlier.

Does a recovery agent need a DRA certificate?

RBI's 2026 Directions require recovery agencies to use only agents certified by the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (IIBF) after its Debt Recovery Agents training, or by an institute tied up with IIBF. Agents already working without it have one year from 1 January 2027 to obtain it. So a missing certificate today does not prove the person is fake, but you can ask, and note the answer for your complaint.

Signs of a fake recovery agent

• Refuses to show ID, or shows only a phone photo of one.
• Cannot name your lender or quote your loan account number.
• Wants cash, a personal UPI ID, or payment to an individual's bank account.
• Offers a large 'discount' if you pay today, with nothing in writing.
• Claims to be from the police, RBI or a court.
• Calls only from private or changing numbers and will not give an office address.
• Asks for OTPs, card details, or your banking password.

Can loan details leak to fake agents?

Yes. Someone quoting your name or loan amount is not proof that they work for the lender. Always confirm through the lender's official channel. Sharing an OTP or paying the wrong person can cost you money and leave the real debt unpaid.

What to do if the ID fails the check

1. 1Pay nothing and sign nothing. Do not share OTPs or card details.
2. 2Tell the lender in writing, with the photos and phone numbers.
3. 3If you suspect fraud, report it at cybercrime.gov.in or on 1930. Suspicious calls can also be reported through Chakshu on the Sanchar Saathi portal.
4. 4If the person pretends to be a police or court officer, file a police complaint.

Paying a genuine agent safely

If you decide to pay, use the lender's official payment link, app or branch where possible. RBI's 2026 Directions require agents to give a proper acknowledgement or receipt promptly on collecting money. Keep it with your bank statement, and check that the payment shows in your loan account.

Conclusion: check a recovery agent's ID before anything else

Checking a recovery agent's ID takes a few minutes and protects you from both fake collectors and agents who ignore the rules. See the ID and letter, confirm with the lender, and pay only through official channels. If your lender will not confirm who is calling, our legal experts can follow up with it in writing for you.