Struggling to Retrieve My PF Number After Leaving a Delhi Company – Any Advice for Bangalore Residents?

Dear All, I apologize for starting this new thread similar to earlier common threads, but new threads provide some active responses within a time frame regarding my PF concerns. I am currently staying in Bangalore and was previously employed by a Delhi-based company that deducted my PF every month since I joined (though they never provided a salary slip). When I left the organization last month, they relieved me and gave me the last three months' salary slips as a formality. Upon reviewing the slips, I noticed that my PF contributions were officially deducted, but to my surprise, there was no PF number mentioned. Now that I am no longer part of the system, the real challenge begins, as I have always heard and seen in various sources that the pursuit for such matters can be daunting.

I have sent several emails to my HR, who forwarded them to the accounts team. After 23 calls, I finally managed to speak to the accounts manager. He requested my full name, father's name, and address to provide me with my PF number. Unfortunately, despite making 19 more calls, I have not received any further response. It seems that the situation is at a standstill. Considering this is a Delhi-based organization and I am now in Bangalore, I wonder if all legal proceedings must occur in Delhi. If that is the case, it appears they are aware that individuals leaving the company may not have the time or resources to pursue legal actions against them, creating a deliberate advantage on their part.

I seek advice from anyone willing to assist me in this matter, especially those with expertise in dealing with similar situations. Since I am residing in Bangalore, I am curious about the steps that can be taken locally to address this issue.

Addressing EPF Non-Deposit by Employers

If the employer has deducted the EPF amount and not deposited it with the EPFO - Regional Provident Fund Commissioner (RPFC) concerned, it is a crime. You can complain to the RPFC in Delhi and seek redressal of your grievance. Keep copies of your correspondence with you. Send all correspondence by Registered Post. There is no need to go for litigation.

But again, will all things need to be done through mails or registry?

Concerns About PF Number and Organizational Response

Mr. Amit, I doubt that you will succeed in your efforts. Once you leave the organization, you will receive a lukewarm response from your erstwhile organization. You also mentioned that during your stay, they did not allot you a PF number. Hence, the link between the PF organization and you is not established. At least there is a weak link of 3 months of PF recovery. I hope the seniors will guide you from this angle. I did this exercise for some workers, and for them, the organization paid both the employer's and employee's subscriptions. They did this to avoid a bad name.

Mr. Amit, I doubt that you will succeed in your efforts. Once you leave the organization, you will likely receive a lukewarm response from your former employer. You also mentioned that during your tenure, they did not assign you a PF number. Hence, the link between the PF organization and you is not established. At least there is a weak link of 3 months of PF recovery. I hope the seniors will guide you from this angle. I did this exercise for some workers, and for them, the organization paid both the employer's and employee's contributions to avoid a bad reputation.

Thank you, sambasivakamasani. I sent them Form 19 and 10C, for which they said they will proceed in 60 days. I don't need to worry about that part, so now I can just wait for 60 days and see what can be done.

Steps to Address EPF Concerns with a Delhi-Based Firm

In the thread, you have not mentioned the duration for which you worked with the Delhi-based firm and whether your EPF contribution was deducted from your wages. In my opinion, you should have submitted your representation in writing as well as online through email to EPFO, Delhi area, along with a copy of the payslip showing provident fund contribution deductions, EPF Registration number, and ask for the desired information, including your EPF number and total contribution, if any, paid by your earlier company.

After the lapse of about a one-month period, you can call for all such information under RTI from the CPIO of the EPFO of the Delhi area where your said ex-firm is located by indicating the EPFO Registration number/code number of your said ex-employer.

Utilizing Public Grievance Mechanisms

In such matters, I have also observed that the mechanism of public grievances as laid down on the following website of the central government is also very useful: :: Grievance Registration Form ::

EPFO is also a Central Government organization and is liable to reply to all grievances submitted under the above pgportal. However, you can use the services of this portal only after you have submitted an official letter to the EPFO of your area asking for the desired information. Until and unless your grievance is not created, in my opinion, in government circles, nobody will examine the issue, and nobody will investigate and reply to you.

In my opinion, there is hardly any hope of you writing again and again to your ex-employer or their HRs. The compliance of labor laws in our country is very poor. In my opinion, social security laws enforcement machinery(ies) are not effective.

Regards

We are insisting that our members who need guidance provide complete details about their queries. Without full details, no one can give a correct reply.

Please Reply to the Following Questions:

1. What is your date of joining?
2. Date of leaving?
3. Details of non-contributory period?
4. Have you ever filled out Form 11 for any exemption from the deduction of PF?
5. Have you received your relieving letter (experience certificate/service certificate) from the previous employer? If so, please check that experience certificate for your PF Number.
6. Do you know the establishment code of your company? If yes, you can check for your name from the monthly remittance details from ECR uploading details.
7. Except in cases of death and superannuation, PF claims can be entertained by the company/RPFO only after a 2-month leave period. So if you left the company last month, you cannot claim now.

Please consider providing the replies to the above questions, and then you can get the complete details from our members.

Thanks, and let me provide you with the answers based on my knowledge:

1. Date of Joining - 02-Feb-13
2. Date of Leaving - 17-May-14
3. I don't know what it is.
4. I filled out a form for my PF at the time of my joining only, where I just provided my details and nominee names. I don't think there was any clause in that form regarding the deduction of PF. After that, I never filled out any form regarding the same.
5. Yes, I received my relieving letter, and they only mentioned my Date of Joining and Date of Leaving, that's it. There is no PF number mentioned on that, and nothing was mentioned on the salary slip they gave me only when I left the job; before that, they never used to provide it.
6. No, I don't know the CODE, but I spoke to a few EPFO members, and they gave me this number DL/xxx/xxxxxx, but I don't know how to check my name there.

I have sent them an email stating that I need to withdraw money urgently and will fill out Form 10C and Form 19. I asked for my PF number for the same, to which they replied, "Send us the forms, and we will take care of that; you don't need to worry."

So, what do you suggest? Do I need to wait for 60 days, or should I write to EPFO? I am confused!!!

Note: Ensure to separate paragraphs with a single line break for better readability and clarity.

As per the details given by you, it is for xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx company and its address is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. If the same is correct, then you can check the availability of the names covered in PF from the list below:

Employees' Provident Fund Organization, India (EPFO)

Total Records: 15

Sl. No. | Employee Name
1. MEENAKSHI RAWAT
2. BHOLA PRASAD
3. ASHNA GEMINI
4. DINESH
5. SANJEEV KUMAR
6. MUKESH
7. SUSHILA
8. BUTARAM
9. RAJU LAMA
10. SHAMHU KUMAR
11. LALIT KUMAR
12. SAJID
13. VIVEKANAND JHA
14. PRAVEEN KUMAR
15. MONU

If the company name is correct, then it is a defaulting company. They have paid the PF Due only for 11 persons out of 15 persons, and it was remitted only from 28 June 2014 to 01 July 2014 for the period from May 2012 to December 2013. Further, they have not remitted for the period from January 2014 to May 2014. This is for your information.

Hope your company might have obtained Form 11 from you so that you are being paid above Rs. 6,500 basic salary, and till now you have never been a member of EPF.

As per the details given by you, it is for FRANCHISE INDIA HOLDING LTD. company, and its address is F 89/11 1ST FLOOR OKHLA INDL. AREA PHASE I NEW DELHI SOUTH. If the same is correct, then you can check the availability of the names covered in PF from the below list:

Employees' Provident Fund Organization, India (EPFO)

Employee Details for FRANCHISE INDIA HOLDING LTD.
F 89/11 1ST FLOOR OKHLA INDL. AREA PHASE I NEW DELHI SOUTH
Establishment Id: DSNHP0937332000 TRRN: 1051406009696 Total Records: 15

Sl. No. Employee Name
1. MEENAKSHI RAWAT
2. BHOLA PRASAD
3. ASHNA GEMINI
4. DINESH
5. SANJEEV KUMAR
6. MUKESH
7. SUSHILA
8. BUTARAM
9. RAJU LAMA
10. SHAMHU KUMAR
11. LALIT KUMAR
12. SAJID
13. VIVEKANAND JHA
14. PRAVEEN KUMAR
15. MONU

If the company name is correct, then it is a defaulting company. They have paid the PF Due only for 11 persons to 15 persons, and it was remitted only from 28 June 2014 to 01 July 2014 for the period from May 2012 to December 2013. Further, they have not remitted for the period from Jan 14 to May 14. This is for your information.

Hope your company might have obtained the Form 11 from you so that you are being paid above Rs. 6500/- basic salary, and till now, you have never been a member in EPF.

So, what's the next step you suggest? Should I wait for their response on Form 10C and Form 19 or write to EPFO Delhi?

Dear Harsh, as I already mentioned, it was my first job, and I was unaware of the procedures. I had asked them earlier regarding the same, and they told me that PF would be credited to my account and that I would receive it at the end. However, all communications were verbal, and they never provided salary slips. How was I supposed to know if they were deceiving me?

If the information furnished by Boss 2966 in the above remarks is correct, I think the employer has not treated you as coverable under the EPF & MP Act, 1952, though the contribution under the said Act has been deducted as mentioned by you in the remarks: "When I left that organization last month, they relieved me and gave me the last three months' salary slips as a matter of formalities in which I found they officially deducted my PF, but to my surprise, there was no PF number mentioned on the salary slip."

I suggest you keep the salary slips in your safe custody and complain to the EPFO of the area where the said ex-firm is located and registered under the said Act.

Even if no action is taken by the EPFO on your complaint or grievance, you can initiate action, in my opinion, against the above defaulting employer for the offense of criminal breach of trust under sections 405 and 406 of the Indian Penal Code. You can also explore other options of taking actions against the defaulting employer, if any, available under the above Act.

Employer's Treatment Under EPF & MP Act, 1952

If the information furnished by Boss 2966 in the above remarks is correct, I think the employer has not treated you as coverable under the EPF & MP Act, 1952. Although the contribution under the said Act has been deducted, as mentioned by you in the remarks: "When I left that organization last month, they relieved me and gave me the last three months' salary slip as a matter of formalities, in which I found they officially deducted my PF, but to my surprise, there was no PF number mentioned on the salary slip."

Steps to Take for EPF Issues

1. I suggest you keep the salary slips in your safe custody and complain to the EPFO of the area where the said ex-firm is located and registered under the said Act.

2. Even if no action is taken by the EPFO on your complaint/grievance, you can initiate action, in my opinion, against the above defaulting employer for the offense of criminal breach of trust under sections 405 & 406 of the Indian Penal Code. You can also explore other options of taking actions against the defaulting employer, if any, available under the above Act.

Next Steps: FORM 10C and FORM 19

Thanks, Mr. Mehta, but now my concern and confusion are whether I should submit FORM 10C and FORM 19 to them and wait for their response or directly write to the EPFO office.

Though I am not well-versed in the procedure to be followed in cases of leaving employment and joining another firm, including the transfer of EPF amount to your new employment address/code, I suggest that you ensure compliance with the instructions of your ex-employer and request immediate action. If your ex-employer fails to comply with the prescribed procedure, I recommend that you raise the issue with the appropriate authorities at EPFO through the grievance procedure.

Before taking the aforementioned action, I also suggest discussing the matter with the official responsible for EPF work at your new establishment. Confirm the directions from your ex-employer and assess the nature and correctness of the forms/procedures to be followed in your case. This step will help you verify the accuracy of your ex-employer's instructions.

With best wishes.

Dear Amit, What makes you worry so much? Please fill out all the details in Form 10C and Form 19 and submit them to your office with all the necessary proofs. Remember to take the acknowledgment for the receipt of the PF and EPS withdrawal forms. Afterwards, request them to hand over the forms to you directly so that you can submit them to RPFO. If the EPFO accepts the forms, the amount will be remitted into your account within 30 days from the date of receipt.

I followed these steps, but when I asked to hand over the forms, they replied that they would take care of it and that I didn't need to worry about it.

Regards

Addressing PF Issues with Former Employers

Whatever it may be, it's a crime. Many companies practice the same. He has to do only one thing: write a complaint with a court stamp. Don't forget to get an acknowledgment from the PF enforcement officer. If he refuses, don't leave him, and don't believe him. You are supposed to believe in yourself and your documents. It is not necessary to have a PF number; there should be some proof that they are deducting amounts in the name of PF, and you should have evidence to show that you have been employed with them. Never believe the enforcement officer; they will use you for their bribe with the concern.

Regards,
Selvam

Dear Amit, Ok, since my employer has now communicated that they have received the documents today and will process them, including FORM 19 and FORM 10C, cancelled cheque, account statement, address proof, and ID proof. How can I track whether they have processed it or not? Is there any PF submission number or other such thing that I need to ask from their side, or any other information I need to communicate, such as indicating that I will be waiting for 60 days or so? They previously refused to send it back and mentioned that I need not worry; upon receiving my documents, they will process it from their end. You can submit the application only after 2 months from the date of your last working day. Give a reasonable time period for your HR to process and submit the same to the EPFO. Then, you can check the EPFO (Govt. of India) website to know your claim status. Kind regards

EPFO Claim Submission and Status Check

You can submit the application only after 2 months from the date of your last working day. Then, give some reasonable time for your HR to process and submit the same to the EPFO. You can then check the EPFO (Govt. of India) website to know your claim status.

My last working day was 17th May 2014, so probably they can process now. But how can I check my status? Do I need to ask them for any number? Because I don't have my PF number with me.

Regards