New Delhi – The National Consumer Helpline (NCH) is handling more than 170,000 consumer complaints each month, a dramatic jump from about 37,000 a decade ago. The surge shows that more buyers trust the NCH to solve their problems.
Call traffic has spiked more than ten‑fold. In December 2015, the helpline logged 12,553 calls. By December 2024, that number hit 155,138. Digital options now carry the bulk of this activity. Nearly two‑fifths of complaints come through online portals, and WhatsApp usage has exploded – rising from 3 % in March 2023 to 20 % in March 2025.
Since India rolled out its Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, the NCH has recorded 3,981 GST‑related calls. Thirty‑one percent are questions, and sixty‑nine percent are formal complaints sent for further action. Almost 2,000 of these cases were forwarded to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), while 761 were routed in real time to the relevant partner companies for quick resolution.
July 2025 was a record month for refunds. The NCH helped customers reclaim ₹2.72 crore by resolving 7,256 complaints across 27 sectors. In April, it achieved 1,079 complaints with refunds totaling ₹62 lakh. E‑commerce led the pack with 3,594 complaints, producing ₹1.34 crore in refunds. Travel and tourism followed, securing ₹31 lakh in refunds.
The NCH’s network of “convergence partners” has grown to 1,142 companies from just 263 in 2017, speeding up how quickly issues are sorted. February 2025 saw the Department of Consumer Affairs secure ₹1.56 crore in refunds for over 600 students after coaching centres broke contract promises.
With its growing call volume, digital presence, and partnership reach, the National Consumer Helpline is becoming a key safety net for shoppers, ensuring they get fair treatment and quick redress whenever they face a problem.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
