A Mumbai-based professional has highlighted how UPI AutoPay mandates created during free trial subscriptions can quietly lead to recurring monthly deductions that many users fail to notice.
Lokesh Ahuja, assistant vice president (Brand Management) at Nykaa and an alumnus of IIM Mumbai, shared the experience in a LinkedIn post after helping his mother learn to use UPI.
Discovery while checking his mother’s phone
Ahuja said he noticed several active AutoPay mandates while browsing through his mother’s smartphone and asked her what services she had subscribed to.
According to him, she replied that she had not subscribed to anything.
He later realised that the mandates had been created while signing up for free trial offers that advertised zero cost for the initial period but also obtained permission to charge users after the trial ended automatically.
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Small deductions often escape attention
Ahuja argued that the biggest concern is not the amount being deducted but how easily it blends into everyday payment activity.
He noted that recurring deductions of ₹79 or similar amounts are often overlooked because they appear alongside dozens of routine UPI transactions.
According to him, the real objective behind many free trials is not the complimentary first month but securing a recurring AutoPay authorisation.
Digital literacy now goes beyond using technology
Reflecting on changing online risks, Ahuja wrote that previous generations worried about children crossing roads, whereas today many younger users worry about parents navigating the internet safely.
In the comments section, he stressed that digital literacy is no longer limited to learning how to use technology. It also involves understanding the permissions users grant while accepting app requests, recurring subscriptions, AutoPay mandates and location access.
He added that these decisions are often made within seconds but can continue affecting users for months or even years.
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Social media users share similar experiences
The LinkedIn post prompted several users to describe similar issues with recurring subscriptions.
Some users claimed payment pages often default to AutoPay instead of offering one-time payments. In contrast, others said people frequently notice recurring charges only after another billing cycle has already begun.
Others emphasised that reviewing active AutoPay mandates regularly could help prevent unnoticed deductions and improve awareness of digital financial commitments.
