“Chalta hai, yaar… what will they do?”
If that’s your inner voice after borrowing from a loan app, this guide is your reality check. 👀
From ghosting EMIs to dreaming they’ll “forget” about your ₹10,000 loan — this post lays out what really happens when you take a loan in India with zero plans to repay.
Spoiler alert: It’s not Netflix-chill, it’s credit-score-kill.
🚨 The Chalta Hai Mindset: Real but Risky
Let’s be real — we’ve all had that one broke moment when a loan app saved the day. But some folks borrow with no intention of ever paying back, thinking:
- “It’s just ₹3,000, chill bro.”
- “It’s an app. Not a real bank.”
- “They don’t know where I live.”
- “I’ll just uninstall the app. Problem solved.”
Sound familiar? Let’s dive into the consequences before this mindset ruins your future.
🧨 What Really Happens If You Default on a Loan
Here’s the breakdown of what typically happens when you miss payments intentionally:
| 📆 Timeline | 💥 What Happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1–7 | Friendly reminders. Push notifications. You think: “So cute.” |
| Day 8–15 | More aggressive calls. Late fees start creeping in. |
| Day 15–30 | Calls multiply. You start blocking numbers like it’s a game. |
| After 30 Days | Threats of legal action, CIBIL impact, calls to your emergency contacts. |
| After 60 Days | You’re likely blacklisted by NBFCs, and CIBIL score takes a nosedive. |
👮 Can You Go to Jail for Not Paying a Loan in India?
Let’s clear this up once and for all:
✅ NO — You CANNOT go to jail for defaulting on a personal loan or loan app repayment.
❌ BUT if you’ve used fake documents, forged details, or took the loan to commit fraud, then yes, it could turn into a criminal case.
🧠 What Really Happens Legally:
- Loan default = Civil case, not criminal
- You may receive legal notices
- You can be sued in court under Indian Contract Act, 1872
- CIBIL score is affected for up to 7 years
📉 The Real Damage: Your Credit Score Goes for a Toss
If you think skipping that ₹200 EMI won’t matter, think again. Just one missed EMI can drop your score by 50–100 points.
And with a bad CIBIL score:
- ❌ No credit cards
- ❌ No EMI phones, gadgets
- ❌ No chance of personal loans
- ❌ Even job applications in banks or finance roles may be rejected
💡 “Your score doesn’t care why you defaulted. It just records that you did.”
🛑 What People Don’t Realize…
Sometimes people default not out of malice, but because:
- The interest and penalties pile up too fast
- They didn’t read the fine print
- They borrowed from multiple apps and lost track
- They thought uninstalling the app would stop everything
Let’s get one thing clear:
Uninstalling the app ≠ Clearing your debt 😬
✅ Smarter Alternatives if You’re Struggling
If you’re genuinely in a financial crunch, here’s what you can do instead of ghosting your lender:
🛠 1. Talk to the loan app:
Many RBI-registered apps offer grace periods or restructuring.
🧠 2. Use BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later):
Safer for small purchases. Look at LazyPay, Simpl, etc.
🎓 3. Sell old stuff online:
It’s 2025 — turn your old tablet or ring light into loan repayment fuel.
🤝 4. Borrow from friends/family:
Less risky, if you’re honest and clear about repayment.
🧾 5. Take one low-interest small loan, not five high-interest ones.
🤔 What If You Still Don’t Pay?
If you don’t pay and keep dodging calls, here’s what you’re signing up for:
- A scarred credit history
- Endless calls (sometimes to your boss, friends, relatives)
- Blacklisting from future loans
- Legal notices and court summons (in extreme cases)
- Loan apps flagging you across NBFCs using your PAN
📛 “In India, your PAN follows you everywhere — including your past loan sins.”
💬 Final Thoughts: Be Wiser, Not Sorry
It’s easy to take a loan.
It’s also easy to ignore a loan.
But cleaning up the mess? Not so easy.
“A ‘chalta hai’ attitude with loans today can become a ‘kyun chala gaya’ regret tomorrow.”
So if you’re borrowing, repay on time.
If you can’t repay, communicate.
And if you never intended to pay — maybe you shouldn’t have borrowed at all.