Easypaisa has come under fire for deducting Rs. 99 from users’ accounts who fail biometric verification with NADRA, with no apparent regulatory justification for this fee. According to reports shared with ProPakistani, some individuals have been charged multiple times after unsuccessful fingerprint matching attempts.
The notification users receive after a failed verification reads:
Easypaisa Imposes Charges for Failed Biometric Verifications
“Your fingerprints could not be matched against your CNIC from NADRA. Please ensure that you are scanning your own fingerprints with a clear background. You can also get your account biometrically verified by visiting your nearest retailer. A fee of Rs. 99 has been deducted from your account.”
READ MORE: Suzuki Cultus vs. Kia Picanto | Top Budget Hatchback Choices
There is currently no clear regulatory explanation for this charge. Easypaisa has not yet provided an official statement regarding this matter, but updates will be provided as soon as available.
In a related issue, Easypaisa introduced a monthly SMS alert fee of Rs. 15 last year, which has raised concerns about compliance with the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) directives. In a circular issued in January 2022, the SBP instructed all banks and microfinance institutions to offer free SMS and email alerts for all digital transactions, both international and domestic. Despite these guidelines, users are still being charged for SMS alerts, and many report delays in receiving notifications, complicating transaction tracking. To opt out of the SMS alert subscription, customers must contact an operator at 3737, a process many users find “unnecessarily complicated.”
