Frequently asked questions

Does JamaBook work without internet?

Yes. Collections, customers, loans and receipts all save with no connection. Everything is written to the phone first and synced when a network appears, so being offline never blocks a collection or delays a receipt.

Is JamaBook free?

Yes. The free plan has unlimited customers and loans and shows small banner ads. A paid plan removes the ads. There is no per-customer or per-receipt charge.

Which languages does JamaBook support?

English and Hindi. The language can be changed at any time in Settings, and it applies to the whole app including printed receipts.

What Android version does JamaBook need?

Android 7.0 or later. The app is designed for low-cost phones and works on modest hardware, since it does its calculation on the device rather than on a server.

Can more than one agent use the same book?

Yes. The owner adds agents by mobile number. Each agent signs in on their own phone, their receipts carry their name, and all collections merge into one ledger. Agents can be switched off, which removes their access.

What is pigmy collection?

Pigmy collection is a daily deposit scheme used in Indian co-operative banking and daily finance. An agent visits each customer daily and collects a small fixed amount, issuing a receipt each time. JamaBook is built around this pattern — a daily due list, small repeated instalments, and a receipt every visit.

How does JamaBook calculate interest on an interest-only loan?

Interest accrues per elapsed month on the outstanding principal. Paying down principal lowers the monthly interest immediately. The closing amount is principal plus accrued interest plus any penalty.

What happens if a customer misses an instalment?

The loan shows as overdue with the number of days late counted from the scheduled instalment date, not from your last visit. If you have set a penalty rate, penalty accrues on the missed amount.

Penalty is treated as income and does not reduce the balance owed. Showing it as if it did is how a customer ends up arguing at the door about a figure that never moved.

Does JamaBook support decimals and paise?

Yes. Amounts are held as whole paise, so ₹2,310.50 stays exact through the calculation, the receipt and the CSV export. Nothing is rounded to whole rupees.

Can a daily loan skip Sundays?

Yes. The schedule stretches across the calendar rather than shortening the loan, so the instalment count stays the same and the end date moves — which is how it is actually agreed at the door.

Can JamaBook read my SMS or contacts?

No. SMS, contacts, location, camera and microphone permissions are stripped from the app at build time, so Android refuses those requests even if the code asked. The app cannot access them.

This matters because predatory lending apps in India are known for harvesting exactly this data. JamaBook is built so it could not, even if someone wanted it to.

Where is my data stored?

On your phone, in a database only JamaBook can read, and on servers in India. Your PIN is held in the Android keystore rather than the database, so a copied backup file does not carry it. All transfers use HTTPS.

How do I delete my data?

Logging out removes the book and the PIN from that phone. To erase your account and its server records permanently, email the address on the contact page from your registered number's address. Export your CSVs first, because deletion is permanent.

Can I turn off analytics?

Yes, under Settings → Security. Turning it off stops collection rather than merely pausing transmission, and discards anything already queued on the phone. Analytics never includes a customer name, phone number, address or rupee amount.

Does JamaBook lend money?

No. JamaBook is bookkeeping software. It does not lend, broker or arrange loans and is not a financial institution. Every lending decision, interest rate and recovery action belongs to you.

Are the payment reminders legal to send?

The reminders JamaBook composes are deliberately plain and carry no threat, because the Reserve Bank of India's directions on recovery conduct prohibit intimidation. You remain responsible for what you send — do not edit them into anything that pressures or threatens a customer.

Do I need a licence to use JamaBook?

JamaBook itself requires no licence, but your lending business may. Money lending is regulated at state level in India and requirements differ. Check what applies where you operate — that responsibility is yours, not ours.