National Consumer Helpline — 1915
The free first step before any filing. The NCH is the Department of Consumer Affairs' pre-litigation grievance platform: it forwards your complaint to the company and pushes for a settlement. It costs nothing, and many refunds are settled here.
How to reach it
| Phone | 1915 (8 AM–8 PM) or 1800-11-4000 |
|---|---|
| Website | consumerhelpline.gov.in |
| WhatsApp / SMS | 8800001915 |
| Also | NCH app, UMANG app, email |
| Languages | 17 languages |
What the NCH can do
- Register your grievance and give it a unique docket number
- Forward it to the company, regulator or ombudsman concerned
- Show action updates against your docket
- Remind the company at set intervals
- Help both sides try a pre-litigation settlement (usually within about 30 days)
1,398 companies in the Convergence programme respond directly respond directly to grievances on the portal.
What it cannot do
- Order a refund, replacement or compensation
- Impose a binding penalty on the company
- Execute a refund order
- Guarantee any remedy — if it does not work, the next step is the Consumer Commission
If the company does not resolve it — usually within about 30 days — the next step is the Consumer Commission on e-Jagriti. Find your route →
Sources: National Consumer Helpline — consumerhelpline.gov.in, righttoinformation.wiki — NCH 1915 helpline guide, Lok Sabha answer — e-Jagriti & NCH (March 2026)
Frequently asked questions
- What is the National Consumer Helpline number?
- 1915 (8 AM–8 PM) or 1800-11-4000. You can also file at consumerhelpline.gov.in, or by WhatsApp/SMS on 8800001915.
- Can the NCH order a refund?
- No. The NCH is a pre-litigation platform — it forwards your grievance to the company and pushes for a settlement, usually within about 30 days. If that fails, file with the Consumer Commission on e-Jagriti.
- Does the NCH charge anything?
- No. Registering a grievance with the NCH is free.