How to File a Consumer Complaint in India (2026)
How to file a consumer complaint in India under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019: which commission, the money limits, the fee, the online portal, and the time limit. Last verified October 2026.
How-to · Consumer Law
A consumer complaint is how you get a remedy for a faulty product, poor service, or an unfair trade practice, without filing a regular civil suit. It is filed before a Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The three things you must get right at the start are the correct commission, the fee, and the time limit. This guide walks through each step. Last verified October 2026.
- Law: the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, before a District, State or National Commission.
- Which commission: up to Rs 50 lakh is District, above Rs 50 lakh to Rs 2 crore is State, above Rs 2 crore is National (2021 limits).
- Time limit: two years from the cause of action (Section 69), with delay condonable for recorded sufficient cause.
- How: file online on e-Jagriti, pay the small prescribed fee, and keep the case number.
01Who can file and for what
A consumer can file a complaint about goods or services bought for consideration (payment), for personal use and not for resale or a commercial purpose. The grounds include a defect in goods, a deficiency in service, an unfair trade practice, an overcharge, or the sale of hazardous goods or services.
A single consumer, a group of consumers with the same interest, a registered consumer association, the Central or a State Government, or the Central Consumer Protection Authority can file. A legal heir or representative of a consumer can also file.
02Which commission: the money limits
The correct commission depends on the value of the goods or services paid as consideration. These limits were revised by the Consumer Protection (Jurisdiction of the District Commission, the State Commission and the National Commission) Rules, 2021, in force from late December 2021:
| Commission | Value of goods or services paid | Governing section |
|---|---|---|
| District Commission | Up to Rs 50 lakh | Section 34 |
| State Commission | Above Rs 50 lakh and up to Rs 2 crore | Section 47 |
| National Commission | Above Rs 2 crore | Section 58 |
Note that the test is the value paid as consideration, not the compensation you claim. A complaint can also be filed where the consumer lives or works, not only where the opposite party is based.
03The time limit
You must file within two years from the date the cause of action arose. This is set by Section 69 of the Act.
A late complaint can still be admitted if you show sufficient cause for the delay and the commission records its reasons in writing. In practice, file a separate application to condone the delay, with documents that explain it, rather than relying on the main complaint alone. Courts apply the two-year rule strictly.
Count from the cause of action
The two years run from when the problem arose, not from when you discovered it or tried to settle it informally. Keep dated proof of the purchase, the defect, and your complaints to the seller.
04How to file, step by step
- Send a notice first. A written notice to the seller or service provider is good practice and often resolves the issue. It also shows the commission you tried to settle.
- Pick the right commission using the money limits above.
- Draft the complaint with the facts, the dates, the defect or deficiency, and the exact relief you want. Attach the bill, warranty, correspondence, and any report.
- File online on e-Jagriti, the national consumer case portal that replaced e-Daakhil. You can also file in person at the commission.
- Pay the fee and keep the filing acknowledgement and case number.
- Attend the hearings, file your evidence by affidavit, and respond to the other side's reply.
The e-Jagriti portal went live on 1 January 2025 and brought the older consumer case systems, including e-Daakhil, into one platform.
05The fee
The filing fee is small and depends on the value of the claim. Complaints up to a low threshold carry no fee, and higher-value complaints carry a modest prescribed fee under the Consumer Protection (Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions) Rules, 2020.
As a rule of thumb, there is no fee for complaints up to Rs 5 lakh, and higher slabs carry a fixed fee that rises with the value. Check the current fee schedule for the exact slab that applies to you.
06What you can ask for
A commission can order the opposite party to do one or more of the following under Section 39: remove the defect, replace the goods, refund the price, pay compensation for loss or injury, stop the unfair or restrictive practice, withdraw hazardous goods, or pay costs. It can also award punitive damages in a fit case.
If you are not satisfied with the order, there is an appeal path up the three tiers. See how to appeal a consumer forum order.
07Where Claw fits
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
Filing is only the start. The complaint then moves through hearings, orders and often an appeal up the three tiers, and that is where tracking earns its keep. Claw sits at this layer. It tracks a consumer matter, its cases, orders and hearings, across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, including the consumer commissions, and lets you search 30 crore+ judgments, from the Supreme Court in 1950 and the High Courts from 1990, to see how similar complaints were decided, with results in under 5 seconds.
Claw does not use customer documents to train its AI models, so your complaint papers stay private. Create a free Claw account to follow your matter by party or advocate name, from filing to final order. For wider research, see case search across Indian courts.
08Sources and further reading
- India Code (Consumer Protection Act, 2019): indiacode.nic.in
- Department of Consumer Affairs: consumeraffairs.nic.in
- e-Jagriti (national consumer case portal): e-jagriti.gov.in
- NCDRC: ncdrc.nic.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees, portals and limits can change, so confirm the current position before you file.
09Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a consumer complaint?
You file before the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission that matches the value of the goods or services paid: the District Commission up to Rs 50 lakh, the State Commission above Rs 50 lakh and up to Rs 2 crore, and the National Commission above Rs 2 crore. You can file online on the e-Jagriti portal or in person.
What is the time limit to file?
Two years from the date the cause of action arose, under Section 69 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. A late complaint can be admitted only if you show sufficient cause and the commission records its reasons in writing.
How much is the fee?
The fee is small and based on the value of the claim. There is no fee for low-value complaints up to about Rs 5 lakh, and higher-value complaints carry a fixed prescribed fee. Check the current fee schedule for your exact slab before filing.
Do I need a lawyer to file a consumer complaint?
No. The process is designed so that a consumer can file and appear in person. Many complainants do use a lawyer for drafting and hearings, especially for higher-value or complex matters, but it is not required.
What relief can the commission grant?
Under Section 39, the commission can order removal of the defect, replacement, a refund, compensation for loss or injury, an end to the unfair practice, withdrawal of hazardous goods, costs, and in fit cases punitive damages.
Can Claw help me track my consumer case?
Yes. Claw follows your complaint and any appeal, tracking the cases, orders and hearings across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, including the consumer commissions, and searches 30 crore+ judgments in under 5 seconds. It supports research and tracking, and does not give legal advice.