How to file a consumer complaint online in India
The short answer: start with the National Consumer Helpline. Call 1915 or register your grievance at consumerhelpline.gov.in. It is free and comes before any court case. If that does not settle it, file a case with a Consumer Commission on e-Jagriti, the government’s online platform.
“Consumer complaint online” is searched on Google in India about 9,900 times a month. Many guides still point to an older portal. This one uses the two official sites as they stood on 6 October 2026.
Two routes, and which comes first
India gives a consumer two official ways to complain. They do different jobs.
- The National Consumer Helpline takes your grievance and takes it up with the company. The Department of Consumer Affairs calls it a dispute mechanism “at pre-litigation level”. In plain words: it is the step before a court.
- A Consumer Commission is the consumer court. There is one for each district, one for each state and one for the nation. It hears the case and gives an order.
The helpline’s own page says that a consumer who is not satisfied can then approach the appropriate Consumer Commission. So the helpline first, the Commission second.
Before you complain
Three things make every later step easier:
- Keep the bill, the payment record and any warranty card.
- Write to the business first, and keep a copy. A message or an email is enough.
- Note dates: when you paid, when the problem began, when you wrote.
Route 1: the National Consumer Helpline
You can reach it in several ways. Pick whichever is easiest for you:
- Phone: 1915, toll free, 8 am to 8 pm.
- WhatsApp or SMS: 8800001915.
- Online: consumerhelpline.gov.in. Choose “Register Grievance”.
- Apps: the NCH app or the UMANG app.
To use the website you sign up once and confirm your email. That gives you a user ID and password. Then you log in, fill in the details of the grievance and attach your documents.
The site says the helpline works in 17 languages. After you register, use “Track Your Grievance” on the same site to follow it, and “Upload Documents” if you need to add proof later.
Route 2: a Consumer Commission, through e-Jagriti
If the helpline does not settle the matter, you can file a case. The platform is e-jagriti.gov.in, from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Its home page sets out three stages:
- Register on the platform.
- Complete your profile.
- File the complaint.
The site has help videos and a help document that show the filing steps for each type of case, and a mobile app. You can follow the case on the same platform as it moves through the district, state and national commissions.
What it costs
The helpline is free. For a district Consumer Commission, the fee depends on how much you paid for the goods or service. For anything up to five lakh rupees, there is no fee.
See the numbers as a table
| Amount you paid | Filing fee, district commission |
|---|---|
| Up to 5 lakh rupees | Nil |
| Above 5 lakh and up to 10 lakh | 200 rupees |
| Above 10 lakh and up to 20 lakh | 400 rupees |
| Above 20 lakh and up to 50 lakh | 1,000 rupees |
These are the district figures shown on the e-Jagriti home page on 6 October 2026. The state and national commissions have their own tables on the same page.
What to expect
- The helpline cannot order a refund. It is not a court. It takes your grievance up with the company, and if you are not satisfied you can go to a Commission.
- A Commission can give an order, because it is a court. Expect a formal process with documents and hearings.
- Proof decides most cases. A bill and a written complaint to the business are worth more than a long description.
Where EveryNearby fits
We list local businesses in 310 Indian cities and show whether, and when, each listing was last checked. That check is about the business’s own website, not the quality of its goods or service. We do not sell anything on behalf of a business and we cannot settle a dispute with one.
If a listing on EveryNearby is wrong or the business has closed, use “Report this listing” on its page. For everything else, the two routes above are the ones that count. You can browse businesses by city here.
Questions people ask
What is the consumer helpline number in India?
The National Consumer Helpline is 1915, toll free, from 8 am to 8 pm. Its About page also gives 1800-11-4000. You can send an SMS or a WhatsApp message to 8800001915.
Is it free to complain to the National Consumer Helpline?
Yes. The helpline is run by the Department of Consumer Affairs and works before any court case. If you are not satisfied with the result, you can still go to a Consumer Commission.
What is e-Jagriti?
e-Jagriti is the government's online platform for filing and following a case in a Consumer Commission, at district, state or national level. You register, complete your profile and then file the complaint.
How much does it cost to file a case in a district Consumer Commission?
The e-Jagriti site shows no fee when the amount you paid is up to five lakh rupees, 200 rupees above five and up to ten lakh, 400 rupees above ten and up to twenty lakh, and 1,000 rupees above twenty and up to fifty lakh.
Can I complain about an online order?
Yes. The helpline takes grievances on consumer issues in general. Keep the order confirmation, the payment record and your messages with the seller, because you will be asked to attach them.
Can EveryNearby take up my complaint against a business?
No. EveryNearby lists businesses and does not sell their services or settle disputes. You can report a wrong or closed listing to us, but a complaint about goods or service goes to the helpline or a Consumer Commission.