How much do AI payment reminder calls cost?
AI payment reminder calls are among the cheapest calls to automate because they are short and scripted. On Outpero a 1-minute reminder costs ₹5 on Standard or ₹6.8 on Premium, so 2,000 reminders a month at a 65% connect rate cost about ₹6,500 on Standard. RBI's conduct rules on recovery calls still apply to regulated lenders. Prices exclude 18% GST.
Monthly cost by book size
| Reminders a month | Connected at 65% | Standard ₹5 (1 min) | Standard ₹5 (1.5 min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 325 | ₹1,625 | ₹2,438 |
| 2,000 | 1,300 | ₹6,500 | ₹9,750 |
| 10,000 | 6,500 | ₹32,500 | ₹48,750 |
Figures are rounded to the nearest rupee. Add ₹649 a month for a dedicated number, which matters here because borrowers and customers are more likely to answer a number they recognise from earlier reminders.
Reminder, conversation or broadcast
- —Voice broadcast plays one fixed message, such as the due date and amount, and ends. It is billed at a lower rate than AI conversation minutes, but cannot take a reply.
- —A Standard-voice AI reminder confirms the due date, asks when the customer will pay and records a promise-to-pay date.
- —A longer Standard-voice AI call suits customers who are already overdue and may raise questions or disputes.
The AI conversation captures fields such as promised date and reason for delay, sent to your webhook or spreadsheet, so collection teams know whom to call personally.
Rules that apply
For banks and NBFCs, RBI's 2022 guidance restricts recovery calls to between 8 am and 7 pm, and conduct rules forbid harassment or threats. Set calling windows within those hours and keep the script polite and factual. Gentle pre-due reminders and post-due recovery calls should be treated as separate campaigns with separate scripts.
Comparing with staff
At the ₹18,000 telecaller reference, ₹4,550 is about a quarter of one person's monthly salary, and the AI campaign can finish the 2,000 calls inside one calling window. Escalated, sensitive cases are better left to trained staff, who can use the captured reasons to prioritise their day.
Lowering cost per rupee collected
The measure that matters is calling cost against amount collected on time. Run reminders three days before the due date and on the due date, keep scripts under a minute, and use captured promise-to-pay dates to schedule a follow-up only for those who miss them. Every call avoided on a customer who has already paid is a saving.
Want to hear an AI voice agent handle this on a real call?
Follow-up questions
Can the AI agent take payment on the call?
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The agent can send a WhatsApp message during or right after the call, which can carry your payment link, and can call a custom API you provide. It records the customer's promised payment date in the captured fields. Whether a payment is completed depends on your payment system, not the call itself.