We are all consumers at some point and occasionally face fraud when purchasing products or services. Often, people settle for these injustices because they don’t know how to seek justice in a consumer forum. Knowing how to write a consumer complaint is essential – you never know when you might need it.
The good news is, you have recourse! The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) 2019 empowers you to seek justice through the best online consumer complaint forum in India, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC). This powerful system allows you to file a complaint against companies that violate your consumer rights.
Whether it’s a faulty product, poor service, or misleading advertising, here are 6 steps to writing a consumer complaint in the best online consumer complaint forum in India
1. Try Direct Communication before making a Consumer Complaint in the Consumer Forum:
Before seeking legal assistance, try to resolve the issue with the e-commerce site or brand. If communication fails, at least you can gather enough evidence against the brand.
- Contact Customer Service: Before filing a complaint, try resolving the issue directly. Contact customer service, clearly explain the problem with relevant details (purchase date, product information), and express your desired resolution (repair, refund, etc.). Keep a record of communication (emails, call recordings if allowed) for documentation purposes.
- Follow Up Regularly: Maintain consistent communication with the company to track progress on resolving your issue. If the company is unresponsive or the process drags on, your documented follow-ups (emails, call recordings if allowed) become valuable evidence for your consumer complaint.
But what happens when attempts to resolve the problem directly with the company fall on deaf ears?
2. Know Your Options in Choosing Consumer Forum:
The Consumer Forum system in India has three tiers:
- District Consumer Forum: This handles complaints with a claim value up to Rs. 1 crore. It’s free and the most accessible level for most consumers.
- State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission: This handles complaints with a claim value exceeding Rs. 1 crore but less than Rs. 10 crore.
- National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission: This handles complaints with a claim value of Rs. 10 crore or more.
The Consumer Forum is the most powerful place to file a claim and seek compensation for the money and effort you’ve invested in a product or service. If you find the process challenging, turn to Kanoon 360. We will clear your legal doubts with our expert consultation.
3. Gather Evidence to fight for your Consumer Rights:
Before initiating the formal complaint process, assemble your “ammunition.” Here’s what you’ll need:
- Proof of Purchase: Bills, receipts, or any document that confirms your purchase of the product or service.
- Warranty/Guarantee Cards: If applicable, include the product’s warranty or service guarantee documents.
- Communication Records: Copies of all emails, call recordings (if allowed), or messages exchanged with the company regarding the issue.
- Evidence of the Problem: Photos or videos that clearly showcase the defective product or the service deficiency.
- Expert Reports (Optional): For complex technical issues, consider obtaining a report from a qualified expert to support your claim.
If all else fails, file an online consumer complaint in the best online consumer complaint forum in India for the most convenient and free legal help.
4. Step-by-Step Guide to Online Filing of Consumer Complaint in the Consumer Forum of India:
Now that you’re armed with the necessary knowledge and evidence, let’s begin the online filing process:
- Go to the Consumer Helpline Website: Open web browser and visit the official Consumer Helpline website:https://consumerhelpline.gov.in/. This is the best online consumer complaint forum in India, the government portal dedicated to consumer grievance redressal.
- Register as a User: Since this is your first time filing online, you’ll need to create an account. Click on “New user” and follow the on-screen instructions. The registration process is straightforward, requiring basic details like your name, email address, and phone number.
- Login and File a Complaint: Once you’ve registered and activated your account, log in using your credentials. Look for the section dedicated to filing complaints. It might be labelled “File Complaint” or “Register Complaint.” Click on it to initiate the process.
Filling Out the Complaint Form: The online form will guide you through providing essential details about your complaint. Here’s what you’ll typically need to fill out:
- Complainant Information: This section requires your name, address, and contact details.
- Respondent Details: Here, you’ll enter the company’s name, address, and contact information (if readily available).
- Details of the Complaint: This is where you’ll provide a clear and concise description of the issue. Briefly describe the product/service, the problem you faced, and the date of purchase/service.
- Value of Claim: Here, you’ll state the amount you’re claiming as compensation for the inconvenience caused.
- Clauses of CPA Violated: Identify the specific clause(s) of the Consumer Protection Act 2019 that you believe the company has violated. This demonstrates your understanding of your rights.
- Relief Sought: This section clarifies what you expect as a resolution to your complaint. Do you want a repair/replacement of the product, a refund for the service, or compensation for damages?
5. Attaching Supporting Documents:
Remember those documents you collected in step 1 ? This is where they come in. The Consumer Forum complaint in India usually allows you to upload scanned copies of your supporting documents, such as bills, receipts, and communication with the company.
6. Submit and Track the status of your Consumer Complaint:
After carefully reviewing all the information you’ve entered and attached documents, submit your complaint electronically. Once submitted, you should receive a reference number for tracking the progress of your case. This number allows you to check the status of your complaint online at a later date.
The most common question is, how long does it take to get a legal resolution for your consumer complaint?
While the website tries for a resolution within three months for complaints filed online, the actual time frame can vary depending on several factors. The workload of the best online consumer complaint forum in India is immense and with a high caseload it might take longer to reach a verdict.
Though the Consumer Forum complaint in India offers a free platform to resolve legal issues, the process can be time-consuming and complex, especially for first-timers. The huge volume of complaints can lead to delays, and understanding the website can be confusing especially for the first-timers
For a faster and hassle-free experience, choose Kanoon 360!
Tangled in the complications of consumer complaint registration? Fed up with long waiting periods? Kanoon 360 is here to simplify the process—and no, easy doesn’t mean expensive! Here are the benefits you’ll get with Kanoon :
- Primary Expert Guidance : Get initial consultations with legal professionals to understand your rights and the best course of action.
- Kanoon Has Everything Under One Roof: We handle everything from drafting legal notices to connecting you with experienced lawyers, all from the comfort of your home.
- Affordable Solutions: Our services are competitively priced and designed to fit your budget. We prioritise making legal help accessible. If you win the case, all expenses will be covered in the claim.
- Legal Help Anywhere, Anytime: You no longer have to wait for seamless legal assistance with Kanoon. Reach us with a simple click on your phone, anytime, anywhere. Our personalised approach guarantees faster verdicts than the Consumer Forum.
Let’s end it on a lighter note. Do you think consumer forums don’t work? Think again after reading the story!
Ever seen a deal too good to be true? Nikhil Bansal, a student, found himself in that exact situation. A famous e-commerce company offered an iPhone for a measly ₹68 (a discount of ₹46,651!), and Nikhil jumped at the chance. He received an order confirmation, but later found out it was a “technical glitch” and the order was cancelled.
Nikhil approached the consumer forum, arguing that such misleading offers hurt consumers. The forum agreed! They not only ordered an e-commerce company to deliver the iPhone for ₹68, but also awarded Nikhil ₹2,000 compensation.
But the story doesn’t end there! e-commerce company appealed, and guess what? The compensation went up to ₹10,000! Looks like sometimes, fighting for what’s right can pay off… literally.
Don’t accept injustice just because the opponent is powerful! Take charge with Kanoon 360, the quickest & easiest Consumer Forum for consumer complaints in India. Visit our website or contact us today!