National Consumer Helpline

September 9, 2026 10:19 PM

National Consumer Helpline facilitates over Rs 105 crore in refunds to consumers

The National Consumer Helpline (NCH) has facilitated refunds of more than ₹105 crore to consumers across 35 sectors by resolving 1,66,189 refund-related grievances between April 25, 2025 and July 31, 2026, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs. The refunds were facilitated at the pre-litigation stage, allowing consumers to seek relief without having to approach Consumer Commissions. The NCH functions as a single-point platform through which consumers across the country can register ...

July 20, 2026 4:23 PM

CCPA initiates suo motu action against 41 restaurants over default service charge

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has initiated suo motu action against 41 restaurants across the country for allegedly violating consumer rights by automatically levying service charges on customers' bills without their explicit consent. The action follows multiple complaints received through the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), where consumers submitted invoices showing that service charges had been added to their bills by default. Based on these complaints, the CCPA conducted...

December 27, 2025 2:52 PM

National Consumer Helpline facilitates ₹45 crore refunds across 31 sectors in eight months

The National Consumer Helpline (NCH), a flagship initiative of the Department of Consumer Affairs, has facilitated refunds worth ₹45 crore across 31 sectors during an eight-month period from April 25 to December 26, providing timely pre-litigation redressal to thousands of consumers across the country. According to Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, the helpline successfully addressed 67,265 consumer grievances related to refund claims during this period, operating ...

October 17, 2025 2:30 PM

National consumer helpline: India’s frontline of consumer protection

The National Consumer Helpline (NCH), a flagship initiative of the Department of Consumer Affairs, serves as a vital lifeline for Indian consumers, guiding them, resolving grievances, and spreading awareness about their rights. Functioning through the portal consumerhelpline.gov.in, it acts as an Integrated Grievance Redress Mechanism (INGRAM), bringing together consumers, government agencies, regulators, ombudsmen, companies, and call centres on a single platform. This mechanism allows complain...

August 22, 2025 3:26 PM

E-commerce leads refund grievances with 3,594 cases and Rs 1.34 crore refunds, says NCH

The e-commerce sector recorded the highest number of refund-related grievances, with 3,594 cases in July 2025, resulting in refunds worth Rs 1.34 crore, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said on Friday. Overall, the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) successfully facilitated refunds totaling Rs 2.72 crore last month, addressing 7,256 consumer grievances across 27 sectors. The Travel & Tourism sector followed, accounting for refunds of Rs 31 lakh. The helpline�...

July 4, 2025 2:59 PM

National Consumer Helpline refunds Rs 7.14 crore to consumers in two months

The National Consumer Helpline (NCH) has helped consumers secure refunds totalling ₹7.14 crore over the past two months, according to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The Department of Consumer Affairs said the amount was facilitated through the resolution of 15,426 complaints spanning 30 sectors. The NCH, a flagship initiative under the Department of Consumer Affairs, plays a critical role in providing pre-litigation support to consumers under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. By addressi...

February 7, 2025 2:40 PM

AI-enabled National Consumer Helpline sees 10-fold surge in grievance calls

The Government of India’s Department of Consumer Affairs has launched an AI-enabled National Consumer Helpline (NCH) system that has revolutionized consumer grievance redressal. The adoption of this advanced system has led to a remarkable increase in consumer confidence, with the number of calls surging from 12,553 in December 2015 to an astounding 1,55,138 in December 2024—a more than tenfold rise, according to a press release from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distrib...