What to include in a consumer complaint
Updated · General information, not legal advice
A clear complaint is resolved faster. Whether you email a company, post on Panchaayat or file with a regulator, include the same core facts.
The checklist
- A one-line summary: what the problem is and which company
- Dates: when you bought, paid, complained and what happened
- Reference numbers: order, booking, policy, account, ticket
- Amount involved and how you paid
- What you have already done and the replies you received
- The resolution you want and a reasonable deadline
A template you can adapt
Subject: Complaint about [issue], order/booking/account [number]
I bought [product/service] from [company] on [date] for ₹[amount] (payment by [method]). [Describe the problem in two or three sentences.] I contacted your support on [date] (ticket [number]) and [what happened].
I request [refund / replacement / repair / compensation] within [x] days. If this is not resolved, I will escalate to the National Consumer Helpline and the Consumer Commission.
Keep it factual
Stick to facts, dates and amounts. Avoid abuse and sharing sensitive personal data such as full card numbers, OTPs or passwords. On a public page, reference numbers are masked, but do not paste them into the description.
Put your complaint on the public record
Free, takes about a minute, and the company can reply in the open.
Raise a complaintFrequently asked questions
Should I share my phone number or email in the complaint text?
Not in the public description. Add them as reference details, where Panchaayat masks them on the public page.
How long should a complaint be?
Short and specific is best: the problem, the dates and amounts, what you tried and what you want. A few short paragraphs are enough.