No Zomato, Swiggy delivery: Gurugram society names residents with pending dues on board, warns of curbs

Gurugram society names defaulters on notice board. (Image: Gundeep Singh/ LinkedIn)

Unpaid maintenance dues are a common issue in housing societies, often dealt with through reminders and notices. But what if those methods stop working? A residential society in Gurugram appears to have answered that question with a firm approach.

In Uppal Southend, residents who have not cleared their maintenance payments are now being publicly named on a notice board placed at the main entrance. Alongside the list of defaulters, the society has also warned of restricting certain services until the dues are settled.

As reported by the Indian Express, the board which is clearly visible to anyone entering the township, does more than identify those who have not paid. It also sets out what could follow if payments continue to be delayed.

The notice reads, “Please note that effective today, all non-essential services-including maid services, car washing, and delivery services such as Zomato and Swiggy-will be suspended until the dues are fully cleared. All residents whose payments are due and whose names are displayed on the notice board are requested to clear their outstanding dues at the earliest. RWA social events are not open to defaulters and PG occupants.”

As per the report, residents said the issue is not new. In several cases, maintenance payments have remained pending for years. Some dues reportedly date back to 2012 and even as far as 2009. In a few instances, the outstanding amount has crossed Rs 1 lakh. According to residents, such delays affect the overall functioning of the society.

The move has led to visible curiosity among residents. Some stop at the gate to read the list, while others take a quick look as they pass by. “So many people have not given. It’s good. Maybe now they will start,” one resident said while looking at the board.

However, not everyone agrees with the method. Some feel that publicly displaying names may not be the right way to address the issue.

“During our time, we would send weekly reminders of pending invoices, hold monthly meetings over the dues, and grievance redressal sessions too. Now without properly reminding and intimating residents, they are being named publicly,” said former RWA president Advocate Rajesh Khatana.

The development has also caught attention online. Mumbai-based founder Gundeep Singh shared a photograph of the board on LinkedIn, expressing surprise at the approach. “I’ve seen legal notices. I’ve seen email reminders. I’ve seen polite WhatsApp nudges. But this? This is the first time I’ve seen a housing society install a full-scale billboard of maintenance defaulters at the entrance gate!” Singh wrote.

He also added that as residents pay their dues, their names are struck out on the board, calling it “public shaming meets real-time reconciliation.”

Reactions on social media have been divided. Some users see the move as effective, especially in dealing with repeated defaulters. One said, “This is how you handle serial defaulters. Some people don’t respond until they are warned or embarrassed.”

Another wrote, “In our society we have the digital boards and defaulters names keep flashing but due to that now there are no maintenance defaulters anymore, public shaming does help!”