What can I do if I get a Notice of non-payment of Disputed Bill

Updated on May 19, 2026 01:36:11 PM

Despite not making much telephone calls, is your telephone bill sky high? Were you out of town and still, electricity bill is touching the sky? Having issues with your credit card bills? Are, the service providers overcharging you? What to do when you are overcharged for your telephone, electricity, water or any other bill. Here is a detailed solution to such problem of non-payment of dipsuted bill.

Matters relating non-payment of disputed bill will be covered under the provisions of Consumer Protection Act, as a bill amounts to either purchasing of some goods or availing of services. Therefore, one can approach the consumer forum in such cases. A detailed procedure of proceeding in Consumer forum followed with case study on nonpayment of disputed telephone and electricity bill.

Within how many days should a complaint be filed in the consumer forum?

The complaint must be filed within two years from the date of receipt services availed. If the limitation time has exceeded then an additional time might be granted on providing with sufficient reason which will be subject to the understanding of the court.

What to do If you get a notice of non-payment of Disputed Telephone Bill?

Approaching the Consumer Court on non-payment of Disputed Bill

Step 1: Approaching the Right Court

Electricity’ being one of the services covered under the CPA, the consumer has power to file complaint against any kind of deficiency in service on the part of Electricity Board.
There are two ways of deciding which court to appear.
First is the place where the service was obtained or the territorial jurisdiction. Deciding on the basis of area where the services was availed is not the sole criteria for deciding the court.
On the basis of cost of service is the second criteria. If the cost of service availed is upto 20 lakhs, one will have to approach District consumer forum, or, if the price of the good bought is above 20 lakh but below 1 crore then State consumer forum, and, if the price of the good bought is above one crore the National consumer forum.
The two criteria have to be kept along together for deciding which court one has to appear.

Step 2: Drafting of Consumer complaint

For this purpose one should consult a lawyer as it would be more effective rather than drafting on your own. Here are few key points which must be in your draft complaint:

Introduction: Introducing yourself in 2-3 lines.
Transaction: Detail of service availed, electricity bill number, other such details.
Defect: In this complain about the deficiency in the services, in the above cases, deficiency of services arising out of excessive bill.
Rectification: In this complainant should rectify what steps were taken by him to redress the matter before approaching the court. Example could be, approaching the electricity board several time, informing them about the defects over phone and letters, etc.
Jurisdiction: Here is where a lawyer will come handy. If complaint is made to court with no jurisdiction over the matter, complaint will outrightly get rejected.
Relief claimed: It is here all the relief which one wants as a compensation should be mentioned. An example could be, settlement on disputed electric bill. Along with this, one should always demand for litigation expenses incurred while fighting the matter in the court as a relief.

Step 3: Payment of Court Fee

If one is approaching district forum, the court fee is INR 100 (upto 1 lakh rupees), 1-5 lakh INR 200, 5-10 lakh INR 400, 10-20 lakh INR 500. When matter concerned with is above 20 lakh then matter will be with state commission, for matters between 20-50 lakh INR 2000, 50 lakh- 1 crore INR 4000 and matters above 1 crore is dealt by National consumer forum and the court fee in such cases is INR 5000.

Step 4: Arguing the Case

One can argue the case on their own or may hire a lawyer. If one is arguing on their own, here are few points to be kept in mind :-

Dress Code: Person arguing must not necessarily be in lawyer’s attire. Decent formal dressing will suffice the situation.
Copies of complaint: Three set of copies if the matter is in District forum or State forum and four set of copies if the matter is in National forum.
What will be the Complainant called in the Court: A complainant will be referred to as Consumer Complaint (C.C.) and
After Result: Free certified copy will be given to the litigants.

The problem of excess billing, its causes and the remedy available to a subscriber who is a victim of such Excess Billing.

In general, excess billing complaints arise from telephones having STD facilities. They arise because of:

The subscriber, his family, friends, and employees having used STD and not being conscious of the extent to which they used it.
A fault in the metering circuit, or some transient fault in the system.
Possible deliberate mischief by other subscribers in league with staff of the telephone department.

What to do when the telephone bill is Unreasonably High

Cancellation of Disputed Bill.(Split Bill) There is also provision for cancellation of the disputed bill and preparation of two bills–

When can a subscriber be called a defaulter? Whether telephone connection can be disconnected for alleged non-payment of a bill?

The power of disconnection of telephone is a very drastic power and it should not be exercised lightly. It should not be forgotten that telephone service is one of the most essential services today and disconnection thereof may put a citizen to extreme hardship and inconvenience and cause irreparable harm and injury. It may have far-reaching ramifications on his day to day living as well as on his means of livelihood.

Before exercising the drastic power of disconnection of telephone the authority concerned must ensure that the bill and / or notice is served on a subscriber and the period of 15 days has expired and the subscriber has failed to make the payment within such period.
On being satisfied, then as per the rules, it has to give a notice to the subscriber about the alleged nonpayment and the proposed disconnection thereby giving opportunity to put forward his case, if any, against proposed action.
Defaulter may be informed by any of the two modes of notices. One is telephonic notice and other is notice by registered post.

What to do If you get a notice of non-payment of disputed electricity bill?

The problem of excess billing, its causes and the remedy available to a subscriber who is a victim of such excess billing

Before taking any Legal Step Assure these Things

Improper or old wiring
Old appliances, especially with heating elements like Water Geysers, Irons, Electric Stoves, etc.
Theft of Electricity
Incorrect reading by the BEST
Faulty meter or Meter display broken
Mistake by BEST in processing the bill
Past outstanding bills accumulating
Revised tariff – These are prime reasons for an outstanding high electric bill.

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

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