Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, complaints up to ₹50 lakh go to the District Consumer Commission, ₹50 lakh to ₹2 crore to the State Commission, and above that to the National Commission. Filing fees are nominal, you may appear in person, and remedies include refund, replacement, compensation and costs. Limitation is two years from the cause of action — commonly the date of the rejection letter or the deficiency.
The consumer forum is the rare Indian court designed to be cheap and quick for an individual against a company. It rewards documentation over eloquence — which is exactly why prepared complainants win against opponents with far bigger legal budgets.
Where you file
| Claim value | Forum | Appeal lies to |
|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹50 lakh | District Commission, Pune | State Commission |
| ₹50 lakh – ₹2 crore | State Commission, Maharashtra | National Commission |
| Above ₹2 crore | National Commission | Supreme Court |
The three complaints we see most
- Insurance rejections — health and life claims declined for 'non-disclosure' or 'pre-existing disease'; among the most frequently overturned categories
- Builder deficiencies — delays, defects, amenities promised in brochures and never delivered
- Banking and finance — wrongful charges, failed transactions, mis-sold products, recovery-agent harassment
Why insurance rejections are so often reversed
Insurers frequently decline on non-disclosure where the proposal form was filled by an agent, or where the undisclosed condition had no connection to the claim. Commissions look closely at the proposal, the policy wording and the medical records — and where the rejection cannot be tied to a material, related non-disclosure, it tends not to survive.
How to build the file
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Policy / agreement / invoice | Establishes the contract and its terms |
| The advertisement or brochure | Proves what was promised, not just what was signed |
| Every complaint email and reply | Shows deficiency and the company's response |
| Rejection letter | Starts limitation and frames the issue |
| Expert or service report | Independent proof of the defect |
The bottom line
Claim what you can prove, file within two years, and lead with documents rather than outrage. The forum is genuinely accessible — and companies settle far more readily once a hearing looks real.