National Consumer Helpline (NCH 1915): how to complain and what happens next

Last checked: 26 October 2026

For consumers in India with a complaint against a seller, service provider or company that has not been fixed, who want a free pre-litigation route before going to a consumer commission

Call the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) on toll-free 1915 or 1800-11-4000, 8 AM to 8 PM daily except national holidays, or register any time on consumerhelpline.gov.in, WhatsApp or SMS 8800001915, the NCH app or UMANG. You get a docket number. Companies in the NCH Convergence programme are expected to respond within 30 days.

Filing with NCH: each step and what happens next

1. Register the grievance

   Official contact

   Call 1915 or 1800-11-4000 and talk to an agent. Or sign up once on the NCH registration form (first name, last name, mobile number, email, password, captcha), then log in and fill in the grievance with your documents. Other channels listed by NCH: SMS or WhatsApp 8800001915, email nch-ca@gov.in, the NCH app and the UMANG app (search for Consumer Affairs or National Consumer Helpline).

   Deadline

   The call centre is open 8 AM to 8 PM, all seven days except national holidays. The Department of Consumer Affairs says a call back facility is available from 8 PM to 8 AM.

2. Get your docket number

   Official contact

   Every grievance is recorded in NCH's central system with a docket number. On WhatsApp, the Department of Consumer Affairs lists the steps as: give your state, city, sector, grievance category and company name, describe the grievance, upload documents, then receive the docket number (DoCA NCH page).

   Deadline

   The official pages do not give a time limit for registering. The two-year limit for a consumer commission complaint counts from the cause of action, so do not wait.

3. Track it and add documents

   Official contact

   Use Track Your Grievance and Upload Documents. Both ask for the docket number, your registered mobile number or email ID, and a captcha. The UMANG app also lets you track a grievance and upload documents.

   Deadline

   Not stated on the official pages.

4. The company responds

   Official contact

   Companies join the NCH Convergence programme voluntarily and free of charge. NCH says more than 2000 companies and organisations have joined. Check the Convergence Partners List for your company.

   Deadline

   For Convergence partners, grievances are forwarded in real time and responses are expected within 30 days. NCH does not publish a time for other companies.

5. Not satisfied: go to the consumer commission

   Official contact

   NCH says that if the grievance is not redressed to your satisfaction, you can approach the appropriate Consumer Commission. File online on e-Jagriti: see our consumer court complaint on e-Jagriti guide.

   Deadline

   Within two years of the date the cause of action arose (Consumer Protection Act, 2019, section 69).

NCH contact channels at a glance

What is the National Consumer Helpline, and can it settle my complaint?

The National Consumer Helpline (NCH) is the grievance redressal mechanism of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India. The Department describes it as a single point of access for consumers across the country at the pre-litigation stage. You can register a grievance in 17 languages on the toll-free number 1915. All grievances go to one central portal called INGRAM, the Integrated Grievance Redressal Mechanism, and each one gets a docket number. Private companies, regulators, ombudsmen and government agencies are brought onto the same platform. Companies that join the Convergence programme do so voluntarily and free of charge, and NCH expects them to respond within 30 days. NCH's own About page calls the portal an alternate dispute redressal mechanism at the pre-litigation level. If you are not satisfied, you can approach the appropriate Consumer Commission. Sources: Department of Consumer Affairs NCH page, NCH Convergence Program, NCH About us.

What can I not complain about on NCH?

The NCH consumer login page lists subjects that cannot be treated as consumer grievances: RTI matters, court related or sub judice matters, grievances against a foreign government, religious matters, and suggestions. NCH's About page says grievances related to consumer issues can be registered. Source: NCH consumer login page.

Common problems and what to do

Your complaint is about an insurer

IRDAI has its own route: the insurer's grievance officer, then Bima Bharosa, then the free Insurance Ombudsman. See our health insurance claim rejected guide and the Insurance Ombudsman offices by state.

Your complaint is about a bank or card

RBI runs its own complaint system with the RBI Ombudsman. See how to file a complaint on the RBI CMS portal.

The company did not reply or you are not satisfied

NCH does not take away your right to file in a consumer commission. Note your docket number and the company's reply, if any, and use them as evidence. Steps, fees and which commission are on our consumer court complaint on e-Jagriti page. Work out your last date with the complaint deadline calculator if it covers your case.

Your complaint is about a government office

NCH handles consumer grievances. For a Central Ministry, Department or State Government office, file on CPGRAMS instead: see how to file, track and appeal a CPGRAMS grievance.

The matter is already in court

NCH lists court related and sub judice matters among the subjects it cannot treat as consumer grievances. Follow the case in that court instead.

Grievance text to paste into NCH (portal, app or WhatsApp)

Free to copy. Replace everything in [square brackets]. Keep it short: NCH asks for the state, city, sector, category and company name separately, so this is the description box.

Company: [company legal or brand name]
Product or service: [what you bought or used]
Order / account / policy / bill number: [number]
Date of purchase or service: [DD-MM-YYYY]
Amount paid: Rs. [amount]

What went wrong:
[2 to 5 short lines, in date order]

My complaint to the company:
On [date] I complained to the company by [email / app / call / letter], reference no. [____]. [It replied on [date] saying ____. / It has not replied.]

What I want:
[refund of Rs. ____ / replacement / repair / service restored / bill corrected] within [__] days.

Documents I am uploading:
1. Invoice or bill
2. My complaint to the company and its reply
3. [Screenshots, photos, bank statement]

Name: [your name]
Mobile: [registered mobile number]
Email: [registered email]
City and state: [city], [state]