The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has asked its subscribers to not depend on private agents for services related to their PF accounts. The EPFO said in a release that it had observed that several cybercafe operators and fintech companies were charging EPFO members large sums of money for services that were officially free. “In many cases, these operators are simply using the EPFO’s online grievance portal, something any member can do on their own, free of cost, from the comfort of their homes,” the EPFO said, cautioning the subscribers against visiting or engaging with third-party companies or agents for EPFO-related services.
What are the issues faced by EPFO pensioners?
The EPFO warned that such actions may expose members’ financial data to third party entities. “These external entities are not authorised by the EPFO and may charge unnecessary fees or compromise the security of personal information of members,” the provident fund authority said. The EPFO added in its statement that it had taken a series of reforms to make services faster, transparent and user-friendly for all its stakeholders. “These initiatives are part of EPFO’s commitment to deliver hassle-free, secure and efficient services to all its stakeholders,” it said.
