Ambiful Haq

Guides · checked 4 October 2026

How to get your money back from a company in India: the steps, in order

Complain to the company in writing, then the free National Consumer Helpline (1915), then a legal notice, then the Consumer Commission, which you can file online yourself within 2 years.

Most consumer disputes (a refund that never came, a faulty product, a repair refused under warranty) are settled long before a court. The trick is to go step by step, in writing, and keep evidence at each step. This is the order that usually works.

1. Complain to the company in writing

Write to the company’s grievance officer (most large companies publish one, as e-commerce and many sectors are required to), not only to customer care. Say what you bought, when, for how much, what went wrong, what you have already tried, and exactly what you want (refund, replacement or repair) by a date.

Keep it factual and attach copies of the invoice and any photos. Give the company a fair time to reply; Haq suggests 15 days.

2. The National Consumer Helpline (free)

If the company does not fix it, register the complaint with the National Consumer Helpline: call 1915, or use the website or the NCH/INGRAM app. The helpline forwards your complaint to the company, and many companies settle at this stage. It costs nothing.

3. A legal notice

A legal notice is a formal letter to the company’s registered office saying what is owed and that you will go to the Consumer Commission if it is not paid by a date. The Consumer Protection Act does not require one before a complaint, but a notice often prompts a settlement and is good evidence that you gave the company a chance. You can send it yourself, by Speed Post, keeping the receipt and the delivery report.

4. The Consumer Commission

If nothing works, file a complaint with the Consumer Commission online on e-Jagriti. You can file and appear yourself; a lawyer is not required. Which Commission hears it depends on what you paid: up to ₹50 lakh at the District Commission, up to ₹2 crore at the State Commission, above that at the National Commission. You can file where you live or work.

The limit is 2 years from when the problem arose (section 69). A late complaint can be admitted only if the Commission accepts the reason for the delay.

5. If the company ignores the order

If the Commission orders the company to pay and it does not, you can ask the same Commission to enforce its order (section 71); not complying with an order is also an offence (section 72).

Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a consumer complaint in India?
No. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 lets you file and appear yourself. For a complicated or high-value case, advice from a lawyer can still help.
How long do I have to file?
2 years from the date the cause of action arose (section 69 of the Act). A Commission can admit a later complaint only for sufficient cause.
Is a legal notice compulsory before going to the Consumer Commission?
No, the Act does not require one, but it often leads to a settlement and shows you tried to resolve the dispute first.

How Ambiful Haq helps

Haq writes each step for you (the complaint, the helpline text, the notice and the Commission complaint), tracks every deadline including the two-year limit, and reminds you. You send and file everything yourself.

Free to start, in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Bengali and Marathi. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Sources

This guide explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice about your own situation; for that, talk to a lawyer. Laws, fees and portals change: check the official sources above before you act.