Fees for Filing Consumer Complaint In India - Complete Guide

Updated on June 19, 2025 03:57:12 PM

Consumer Complaint is a vital component of protecting the right of a consumer through a legal procedure. When a consumer paid for any item or service and they don’t get as they promised to be. In this situation, every individual or end-user has the right to file a complaint and seek compensation.

Before filing your complaint, it’s essential to understand the consumer court fees involved. This helps you prepare in advance and avoid unnecessary delays in the process.

Who is known as a Consumer?

An individual or group of people who bought any product or service for personal use not for any marketing purpose is known as a Consumer. A Consumer must have paid off for the service or item that they bought. They also have to be the end-user and beneficiary.

Basic understanding of the Consumer Complaint

A consumer Complaint is a legal complaint that can be filed by any person who is the end-user/beneficiary. Under the Consumer Protection Act 1986, a consumer has several rights to protect themselves from being frauded or cheated. This Act clearly mentions that if any individual suffers from this kind of situation they can file a Consumer Complaint and can seek compensation for their loss and harm.

Process of Filing a Consumer Complaint

The complete stepwise process of filing a Consumer Complaint is given below:

Step 1: Collect Necessary Information

When a Consumer buys any product or service, he/she should have complete information. In case any consumer feels frauded they can use this necessary information as evidence for filing a complaint.

This necessary information could be anything such as a payment receipt of the product/service, any communication between seller and buyer, product descriptions, warranty evidence or any contract.

Step 2: Send a Formal Letter

Before filing a Consumer Complaint in consumer court the Consumer must send a formal letter and try to resolve the matter directly. At the initial stage, the consumer should connect with the company’s consumer care department and mention all the issues.

If there is no action taken by the company or seller a formal letter must be sent by the buyer. In this letter, all the problems and issues should be mentioned correctly along with any evidence that proves the consumer’s side. This letter could be sent through the post or email as well.

The Seller/company must reply or resolve the consumer’s problem within 15 days of receiving the letter. If no response came from the seller side, the consumer has the right to file a consumer complaint in the appropriate consumer court.

Step 3: Take Lawyer Help

It is essential for consumers to seek legal advice before filing a complaint. It is their responsibility to explain the process or legal remedies that will assist you during the hearing process. Incomplete information will increase your chances of rejection if you file a complaint. Consumers may also have to pay a fine or compensation when found guilty.

If you want to file a Consumer complaint against a company, “Litem Legalis” will help you as a professional guide and help you to seek compensation for your loss and harm.

Step 4: Select the Appropriate Consumer Forum

Before filing the Consumer Complaint the Complainer should know the appropriate consumer forum where they file their complaint. There are a total of three types of forums where consumers file their complaints according to the case value. These Consumer forums are as follows:

  • National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC): It is the national-level court for solving consumer disputes. If the case value is more than 1 crore the consumer can file a complaint in NCDRC.
  • State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC): It is the State level court for resolving consumer problems. If the case value is less than 1 crore the consumer can file a complaint in SCDRC.
  • District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC): This is the district-level court for solving consumer issues. If the case value is up to 20 lakhs, the consumer can file a complaint in DCDRC.
  • right as heirs.
Step 5: Filing a Consumer Complaint

If the consumer does not get any response from the seller, a Consumer Complaint will be filed in the appropriate consumer forum. During filing the complaint the Consumer must attach all the appropriate required documents along with the complaint form. These documents will be as follow:

  1. Memo of Parties
  2. Proof of Purchase
  3. Proof of Communication
  4. Photographs or Video evidence (if any)
  5. Other Relevant documents.
Step 6: Take Follow up timely

Stay involved in the process after filing a complaint. You should follow up with the consumer protection agency or any other relevant parties to ensure your complaint is being addressed.

Consumer Court Fees – Charges for Filing a Complaint

When filing a consumer complaint, a small court fee must be paid, depending on the value of the goods or services involved in the case. This fee is officially set under the Consumer Protection Rules and varies based on the claim amount. Below is the complete breakdown of court fees for filing a consumer complaint in India:

Case Value Court Fee
Less than 5 lakhs No Court fee
5 Lakhs - 10 Lakhs ₹ 200
10 Lakhs - 20 Lakhs ₹ 400
20 Lakhs - 50 Lakhs ₹ 1000
50 Lakhs - 1 Crore ₹ 2000
1 Crore - 2 Crore ₹ 2500
2 Crore - 4 Crore ₹ 300
4 Crore - 8 Crore ₹ 5000
8 Crore to 10 Crore ₹ 6000
More than 10 Crore ₹ 7500

Note: The court fee is totally different from the professional lawyer fees if the complainer hires any lawyer. If you want to file a Consumer complaint against a company, “Litem Legalis” will help you as a professional guide and help you to seek compensation for your loss and harm.

Required Documents for Filing a Consumer Complaint

The complete list of documents are provided below that needs for filing a Consumer Complaint:

Conclusion

A Consumer is a person who purchases any product or service for their use. Most of the time the consumer may face some issues regarding the product/services that fail to satisfy consumer needs. In this situation, the consumer has the right to file a complaint and take legal action against the seller.

However, the consumer has to pay some amount as a court fee for filing a Consumer Complaint. The Court fees can vary in accordance with the case value. The complainer must have complete information regarding the court fees before going to file a complaint. It will help them to seek appropriate compensation from the seller for their harm.

How can “Litem Legalis” help you?

Litem Legalis is a team of professional lawyers that have years of experience. Our team believes you to provide complete guidance and friendly assistance through the complete procedure. There are several other reasons that help you to make Litem Legalis the best choice such as:

Free Legal Advice

Free Legal Advice

Expert Lawyers

Expert Lawyers

Lowest Fees

Lowest Fees

Quick Process

Quick Process

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Consumer Complaint?

Consumer complaints are official grievances made by buyers when they don't get the goods or services they purchased from the supplier.

Is filing a consumer complaint free of cost?

Yes, it’s free if the value of the product or service you paid for is ₹5 lakh or less. As per the 2022 rules, you don’t have to pay any court fee for small complaints. This makes it easier for everyday people to raise their issues without spending extra money.

What rights do consumers have?

There are several rights that consumers have such as the right to safety, the right to choose, the right to be informed, the right to consumer education, the right to be heard, and the right to seek compensation.

How do I raise a complaint in consumer court online?

Litem makes filing a consumer complaint quick and stress-free. We draft your complaint, manage documentation, and handle the filing process from start to finish. Need assistance? Contact us and our legal team will guide you every step of the way.

Get In Touch

Support

Speak Directly to our Expert Today

Disclaimer: The content provided on this site is intended for informational purposes only. Accessing or utilizing this site and its materials does not establish an attorney-client relationship. The information contained herein does not constitute legal or professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. It is not a substitute for obtaining legal counsel from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.