Sometimes, you really hate when something you liked most about something drops the same service. Around two and half month back, I wrote about NGPay. The best part of the service was mobile top-ups at the moments, you might need them urgently and no other options might be nearest. Sorry to say you guys, NGPay decided to close down the service since last few days, if I know right.
Not sure, since when the service is closed down, but I came to know around few days back only, the very first mention on tweet from NGpay side was on July 19, 2010, when they claimed that due to too high failure levels, they are forced to remove the service from their catalogue.
More sad part was their re-confirmation on the day next, adding that the services wont be returning soon.
What kind of issues they might be facing?
As I wasn’t able to find any link for any of their blog neither does their own site has any updates on it except this twitter account, nothing confirms that this service is closed permanently.
Issues as much we could guess were particularly related to failed recharges due to communication issues due to limited capacity of mobile internet, delays in secure communication channels, in-correct recharge amounts and something like these.
But still I think it was a business decision due to low margins against high risk factor and too many channels required to resolve issues otherwise IRCTC sure has much more high failure rate in comparison of mobile recharges. I myself faced any issue with recharges rarely, while got more than 5-6 times refunds while using IRCTC through NGPay. But still IRCTC is in their catalogue, while mobile recharges are not… why?
Problem lies in the same thing, NGPay came in existence for. No unified system, there are no perfect routes to return the money from the mobile service providers while IRCTC refunds are very well made and functioning perfectly in comparison.
Still we wish that they may overcome these issues very soon.
What are the alternatives?
I am not really sure that why government or mobile operators are not coming on their own to provide a unified service that could provide online recharges to everyone for any of the provider available across India. May be there are options of online recharge from individual service providers like Vodafone or Airtel or any other, but nothing matches with a unified system that could be accesses via a simple application in your mobile itself.
One such still available application/ service is mCheck that is still working for recharges.. not sure till when..
Nitish Kumar's Blog 
Hi Nitish,
It’s really unfortunate to hear that a great innovator like ngpay had to drop mobile recharges from their service portfolio. E-Topup business sure has its fair share of risks and service issues.
I work with a leading MVAS firm One97 Communications and we have recently launched an Online Mobile Recharge Service ourselves, at http://www.PayTMonline.com. PayTM being One97’s flagship mobile commerce platform.
There are three inherent issues in this business:
1) Extremely low margins, as low as 10paise per Rs.100 recharge for big operators like Airtel/Vodafone (primarily due to high payment gateway costs)
2) Frequent failures due to customers entering incorrect e-topup values (operators keep shuffling their e-topup values rather frequently so its hard for the customers to keep track)
3) Payment Security issues – With the lack of 3D security for mobile transactions, non-web based mode of transactions are prone to credit card frauds (RBI has brought out a mandate in this regard and hopefully mobile txns would be secured by 1 Jan 2011)
Thought I’ll contribute my bit as I am very closely associated with this line of business and feel very strongly about it.
Regards,
Abhishek
Thanks Abhishek for your very very valuable comments. Customers should know about the issues operators might be facing in bringing this kind of services and may be some ideas get the sunlight for making things smoother.
Its visible that if more than three companies are involved in some transaction then tracking down the fault and setting up an automatic recovering mechanism for the originating party isn’t an easy thing.
Though one concern is of my own,
like I seen with NGPay and Mcheck, most of the providers of such services ask for your credit card number and CVV and sometimes even date of birth means if somehow this data get leaked then customers are sure in danger. Automatically changing CVVs are still not in production even if invented. Is operators looking for some solution to bring the faith?
now u can recharge and book ur rail tickets using *atom mobile application*, m usng it n it works great.
I am Happy with NGPay
” Payment Security issues – With the lack of 3D security for mobile transactions, non-web based mode of transactions are prone to credit card frauds (RBI has brought out a mandate in this regard and hopefully mobile txns would be secured by 1 Jan 2011) ”
The understanding may be wrong . RBI clearly states all online/internet transactions are included. The mentioned applications use mobile to do online/internet transactions. No where RBI specified it excluded mobile online transactions. The companies are not following the RBI guideline and frauds are reported.
Refer the comments
http://www.medianama.com/2009/07/223-indian-e-commerce-braces-for-changes-in-credit-card-verification-norms/
“RBI norms applicable from 1st Aug however kept the IVR pased payments out or perview ( with seperate norms for same mandated ) & No distingusing of Mcommerce transaction, Banks & most PG dint worked on mobile model integration of 3d secure ( VBV-MSC ) or only now realise the nonadaptability of same on mobile com universe.( however some process is now on with PG`s to work on a model adaptive on mobile. still lil slow n late )
Client apps like ngpay etc wil adversly get hit by the same if the relaxation/ clarity for mobile implementaion of 3d secure is not relaxed by RBI soon. ( tough to work out a 3d secure PG process integration within aug 1 ,2009 deadline )
However there are some solutions we as a mcommerce app owner are working on with PG and other partners. ( which includes our own mobile commerce apps and our alliance apps like ngpay,mChek etc. Challenging. Any next steps you guys initiating for client – ussd solutions for VBV-MSC in CURRENT scenarion -PG state ?
Regards
Ankur Dubey
Mobility
MakeMyTrip I. Pvt. Ltd.”
pls any body tall me where i can complain if any online site not refund my amount bez i recharge online my mobile through of http://www.rechargeitnow.com from my net banking amount deduct but mobile not recharge many time i feedbackk to them but they never reply they eat my 200 rs. Pls tell me to whome i write did to rbi pls reply me thanks
yesubhidhaprapt karne ka shulk lagta hai
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