pick up
you owe ₹8 lakh. it's 10:04am and the third unknown number is calling.
the story is fiction. the rules are real. this is not advice.pick up, or let it ring? comment PICK UP or IGNORE on the reel. the majority by 3pm IST tomorrow writes part 2.
SCORE 720 → 720 · OWED ₹8,00,000 · DAY 1
what happened
four lenders, ₹8 lakh, and a score of 720 that looks fine. the app loan is ten days overdue, and its recovery agent has called three times since nine.
you don't answer, so a message arrives from the same number:
Sir last reminder before LEGAL ACTION. Call back immediately.
in the standup, your manager says your name. the phone starts again.
the evidence
the story is fiction. these rules are real.
- an agent can call you only between 8am and 7pm, and can't threaten you, lie to you or call anonymously. the rule →
- a whatsapp line from an unnamed number on day 10 is not a legal notice. the rule →
- from 1 january 2027, recovery calls must be recorded and you must be told. the rule →
spotted it?
something on the laptop matters later. we're not saying what.
case board
the five best comments on part 1 get their handles here and on part 2's case board. posted tomorrow.
the story so far, in a minute
you're 24. you take home ₹45,000 a month. you owe ₹8 lakh to four lenders, and this week the calls started.
what you owe
| lender | you owe | what it costs | how it got there |
|---|---|---|---|
| credit card | ₹2,10,000 | 3.5% a month, about 42% a year | two years of paying minimum due |
| app loan | ₹1,50,000 | 36% a year | taken to pay the card |
| pay-later | ₹40,000 | 0% until you miss, then late fees | a phone, shoes, a wedding outfit |
| vicky's car loan | ₹4,00,000 | 11% a year | you co-signed. he has missed one EMI. |
your score: 720. below 700, banks stop lending. 750 is where it starts to look good. you live in the gap, and three things haven't been reported yet.
how it works
- one part every night at 8pm IST on @theminimumdue.
- every part ends with a choice. comment your vote on the reel.
- the most votes by 3pm the next day writes the next part.
- every choice moves the score, the debt or the clock. one year to fix it.
who's who
- you. glasses, office lanyard, no name. could be anyone.
- jo. reads your statements, knows every date, says what you won't.
- vicky. your cousin. the car is his, the loan is in both your names. he has his own account, @cousinvicky. don't tell him about this.
- the agent. a voice on the phone. you never see him.
the story so far
- part 1 · day 1 · pick up. 10:04am, mid-standup, and the third unknown number is calling. vote open. read the case file →
the story is fiction and its numbers are illustrative. the rules are real, and every one is on the rules page →
every rule from the show, in plain english
The story is fiction. These rules are real, with the source under each one. This page explains rules and is not advice on your situation.
Can a recovery agent call me at work, or after 7pm?
Part 1
At work, yes. After 7pm, no. Since August 2022 the RBI has told banks, NBFCs, housing finance companies, co-operative banks and asset reconstruction companies that they and their agents must not:
- call you before 8am or after 7pm to recover an overdue loan
- call you persistently
- intimidate or harass you in any way, verbal or physical
- make threatening or anonymous calls
- make false or misleading representations
Microfinance loans have a separate RBI framework.
In the story: the calls come at 10am, inside the hours. The problem is the message that follows.
Is “last reminder before legal action” a legal notice?
Part 1
No. A WhatsApp message from an unnamed number is a collection message, not a legal notice. The same RBI circular bars false or misleading representations during recovery. A message that suggests legal action has started when it hasn't can fall under that.
A real notice names the lender, the amount owed and a date, and tells you how to respond. That test is a practical guide, not a regulation.
If an agent's conduct crosses these lines, complain to the lender first. If the lender rejects the complaint or does not reply within 30 days, you can take it to the RBI Ombudsman at cms.rbi.org.in.
Source: RBI circular RBI/2022-23/108
What changes for recovery calls on 1 January 2027?
Part 1
On 6 August 2026 the RBI issued final directions on how lenders recover loans and use recovery agents. They take effect on 1 January 2027 for banks, NBFCs and housing finance companies. From that date:
- Hours. Contact only between 8am and 7pm, unless you ask for another time.
- Recording. Recovery calls are recorded, and you must be told.
- Visits. You are told at least a day before a visit which agency is assigned, and told at once if the agency changes.
- Timing. No recovery contact at moments such as a bereavement, a medical emergency or a wedding.
- Conduct. No threats or violence. No intimidating your family, friends or co-workers. No public humiliation. No excessive calls or messages.
Until then, the 2022 rules above apply.
Source: RBI press release, 6 August 2026