---
title: "Where to complain: the escalation ladder | dpdpr.in"
description: "Which office to go to first, next and last, by type of problem."
url: "https://dpdpr.in/rights/escalation-ladder/"
canonical: "https://dpdpr.in/rights/escalation-ladder/"
site: "dpdpr.in"
updated: "2026-11-02"
disclaimer: "Independent reference, not legal advice. Not affiliated with the Government of India or MeitY."
---

# Where to complain: the escalation ladder

Plain-language help for ordinary people. General information, not legal advice. Helplines, portals and screen names were checked against official Government and regulator pages on 1 November 2026. Portals change: if a screen looks different, follow the words on the screen and the official guide linked in each step.

Most routes have the same shape: **the company first**, then the **regulator or ombudsman**, then a **court or tribunal**. Crimes go to the police straight away.

## The basic flow

1. Is someone threatening you, or did you lose money? Go to 1930, cybercrime.gov.in or the police first. Do this at the same time as everything else.
2. Complain to the company in writing. Get a reference number.
3. Wait for the time limit for that sector (for example 30 days for banks, 15 days for insurers, 7 days for social media).
4. No reply or a bad reply? Go to the sector regulator or ombudsman.
5. Still not fixed? Go to the Consumer Commission, the Appellate Tribunal, or a court, depending on the route.
6. From 13 May 2027, for misuse of personal data, the Data Protection Board sits after the company's grievance step.

## By type of problem

| Problem | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Money lost to fraud | 1930, then cybercrime.gov.in | Your bank in writing | RBI Ombudsman (cms.rbi.org.in) after 30 days, within 90 days | Consumer Commission or court |
| Threats, extortion, morphed photos, stalking | Police or 1930 / cybercrime.gov.in | Platform grievance officer to remove content | Grievance Appellate Committee (gac.gov.in) | Court |
| Spam marketing | 1909 or Chakshu within 7 days | Operator complaint centre | Operator's Appellate Authority | National Consumer Helpline |
| Fraud call or SMS, no loss | Chakshu on Sanchar Saathi | Your bank's fraud line if it was about your bank | | |
| Telecom or internet service problem | Operator complaint centre (docket number) | Operator's Appellate Authority (30 days) | National Consumer Helpline or CPGRAMS | Consumer Commission (e-Jagriti) |
| Bank, wallet, credit report problem | The bank or company in writing | RBI Ombudsman after 30 days | Appeal against an Award within 30 days | Consumer Commission or court |
| Insurance | Insurer's Grievance Redressal Officer (15 days) | Bima Bharosa or 155255 | Insurance Ombudsman | Consumer Commission |
| Social media | Platform Grievance Officer (24 hours ack, 7 days) | Grievance Appellate Committee within 30 days | | Court |
| Misuse of your data by a company (from 13 May 2027) | Company's DPDP grievance route | Data Protection Board | Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) within 60 days of the Board's order | Supreme Court on a question of law |
| Stock broker or investment app | Broker in writing | SEBI SCORES (reply in 21 days) | Review by the Designated Body, then SEBI (ask within 15 days each) | SMART ODR or Consumer Commission |
| Government office | The office in writing | CPGRAMS (21 days per its FAQ) | CPGRAMS appeal within 30 days | RTI to get the records |
| Hospital records or ABHA | Hospital in writing (records in 72 hours) or ABDM grievance portal | National Consumer Helpline | Consumer Commission | |
| Any other consumer problem | Company in writing | National Consumer Helpline 1915 | Consumer Commission on e-Jagriti, within 2 years | |

For DPDP cases, section 29(9) of the Act says an appeal against the Appellate Tribunal's order follows section 18 of the TRAI Act, 1997, which provides for an appeal to the Supreme Court.

- [RBI: Reserve Bank Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2026 (FAQs)](https://www.rbi.org.in/CommonPerson/english/Scripts/FAQs.aspx?Id=3407)
- [TRAI: Telecom Consumers Complaint Redressal Regulations, 2012](https://trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-09/CA_05012012.pdf)
- [IRDAI Bima Bharosa: FAQ and complaint route](https://bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in/Home/FAQ)
- [Grievance Appellate Committee (IT Rules, 2021): FAQ](https://gac.gov.in/CMSData/FAQs)
- [National Consumer Helpline (Department of Consumer Affairs)](https://consumerhelpline.gov.in/public/)
- [Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (MeitY copy of the Gazette)](https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2024/02/Digital-Personal-Data-Protection-Act-2023.pdf)
- [TRAI: TCCCPR (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (complaint within 7 days)](https://trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-02/Regulation_12022025.pdf)