dpdpr.in
Am I covered?

An ed-tech sales team pressured my family and seemed to know about my child

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.

"They knew my daughter's class and school and kept calling until we signed up. Then they would not refund."

The situation in a citizen's own words, paraphrased from public reports. No names or personal details.

Write to the company's grievance officer for a refund and ask where it got your child's details. Use the consumer route for refunds.

Safety first. Threatened or in danger: call 181 (women) or go to the nearest police station. Lost money: call 1930 at once.

Your rights

  • Right to ask the school which app vendor holds your child's data and why.
  • Right to complain to NCPCR (e-Baal Nidan) about harm to a child.
  • DPDP rights from 13 May 2027. You can ask what data the company holds and who it shared it with (section 11), ask for correction or erasure (section 12), and complain to the company, then to the Data Protection Board (sections 13 and 27). The company answers for its processors (section 8(1)). From that date a company needs verifiable parental consent for a child's data and may not track children or target ads at them (section 9).

How to fight it, step by step

One action per step. Each step says what to write, what to attach, what you get back, and how long to wait before the next step. If the person turns out to be fake, skip to If it is fake.

  1. Save the evidence before you block or delete anything.
    What to write: A short note with the date, time, number used, and exactly what was said or what details they knew.
    What to attach: Screenshots of the call log, SMS, WhatsApp chats (with the number visible), and any payment screen.
    What you get back: A record that cannot later be denied.
    How long to wait: Do this the same day.
  2. Write to the principal.
    What to write: Letter 2 below, asking for the vendor's name and what data it holds.
    What to attach: Screenshots of the app.
    What you get back: A written reply.
    How long to wait: 30 days.
  3. Complain to NCPCR on e-Baal Nidan if a child is harmed.
    What to write: What happened.
    What to attach: Evidence.
    What you get back: A complaint number.
    How long to wait: Track online.
  4. File a police complaint, or ask for an FIR.
    What to write: A signed complaint to the officer in charge of your local police station, or online at cybercrime.gov.in. Say what happened, when, the numbers used, and that a child's data or images were misused.
    What to attach: Printouts of your screenshots and a copy on a pen drive. Your ID proof.
    What you get back: An FIR copy, or at least a written acknowledgement of your complaint. Online, you get an acknowledgement number.
    How long to wait: Do this at once if you feel unsafe. Do not wait for the company.
  5. Get a lawyer if the stakes are high.
    What to write: Nothing yet. Take your full file to the lawyer.
    What to attach: All of the above.
    What you get back: Advice on a legal notice, a claim before your State's IT Adjudicating Officer, or a civil suit for damages.
    How long to wait: Before you send any legal notice or file a suit. This page is not legal advice.

What people tried and what worked

  • People went to the consumer commission and NCPCR.
  • A commission ruled for the complainant in one case.

Based on reports on public forums, and the news reports listed below. Paraphrased, with no usernames or personal details. What worked for one person may not work for you; the numbered steps above are the official route.

News reports

Not legal advice. This page explains the rules in plain words so you can act. Consult a lawyer before you sue anyone or send a legal notice. Laws and portals change; check the linked official source.

Step 1: stay safe and find out who it is

  1. Do not share an OTP, PIN, password or card number.
  2. Ask for their name, company, role and ID. Write it down.
  3. Hang up and call the company on a number you find yourself, on its official website or app.
  4. Ask whether this person works for the company or a partner. Ask for a written answer (Letter 1 below).

If it is genuine: hold the company accountable

Which rules this may break

  • DPDP Act section 9 (from 13 May 2027): verifiable parental consent; no tracking, behavioural monitoring or targeted ads for children.
  • Ministry of Education advisory on ed-tech (23 December 2021).

What the company must do, and by when

  • Answer your written request.
  • Stop the misuse.
  • From 13 May 2027: tell you who received your data (section 11) and report breaches (section 8(6)).

Letter 1: ask them to confirm who the caller is

Send it through the official channel. Keep a copy and the acknowledgement.

To: The Grievance Officer, The Principal, [School name]
Subject: Please confirm whether this person works for you

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am your customer. My child's admission number: [number].

On [date] at [time] I received a call or message from [phone number]. This is not an official number. The person said they were [name], [role or employee ID], from the school. They knew my [list the details they knew].

Please confirm in writing within 7 days:
1. Whether this person is your employee, agent, app vendor or partner.
2. If yes, their name, role and the agency they work for.
3. Whether you allow staff or agents to contact customers from personal numbers.
4. If they are not connected with you, please say so, so I can report the number.

Name:
Registered mobile number:
Date:

Letter 2: ask how your data got there

To: The Grievance Officer, The Principal, [School name]
Subject: How did my personal data reach a personal phone? Complaint number [if any]

Dear Sir or Madam,

On [date] a person connected with you, [name if known], contacted me from a personal number [number] and knew my [details]. [Describe what they did.]

Please tell me in writing:
1. What personal data about me this person could see, and through which system or app.
2. Whether you shared my data with any agency, app vendor, partner or processor, and their names.
3. How my data reached a personal phone or account outside your official systems.
4. What action you have taken against the person or agency, including suspension while you investigate.
5. What you have done to stop this happening again.

Many companies already name a grievance officer for data matters under the IT Act's 2011 SPDI Rules.

From 13 May 2027, sections 8 and 11 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 also apply.

Please reply within 30 days. If I do not hear from you, I will escalate to the National Consumer Helpline and, from 13 May 2027, the Data Protection Board.

Name:
Registered mobile number:
Date:

Evidence to keep

  • Screenshots of calls and messages with numbers, dates and times.
  • Order, booking, policy or account numbers.
  • Your complaint numbers and the company's replies.
  • A note of what the caller knew or did.

More in the evidence checklist.

Can you sue? What realistically happens

  • Consumer Commission: the most practical route for compensation. Cheap, no lawyer needed, file within 2 years.
  • IT Act section 43A (until 13 May 2027): if the company was negligent with sensitive personal data (passwords, bank or card details, health records, biometrics) and that caused wrongful loss or gain, it must pay compensation. Claims up to Rs 5 crore go to your State's IT Secretary acting as Adjudicating Officer (section 46); larger claims go to a court. Appeal within 45 days (section 57). Your phone number and address alone are not sensitive data under the 2011 Rules.
  • Civil suit for damages: possible, but slow and costly. Section 61 of the IT Act bars civil courts from matters the Adjudicating Officer can decide.
  • Police: only where there is a crime, for example a person who disclosed your information in breach of a contract to cause wrongful loss or gain (IT Act section 72A, up to 3 years), identity theft (66C), cheating by impersonation (66D), stalking or threats.
  • Realistic outcome: most people get results from a firm written complaint and the regulator or ombudsman. Courts take years. Consult a lawyer before suing.

From 13 May 2027: the Data Protection Board

From 13 May 2027 the DPDP Act's duties apply. The company is responsible for processing done by it or by anyone processing on its behalf (section 8(1)), may use a processor only under a valid contract (section 8(2)), must protect your data with reasonable security safeguards (section 8(5)), and must tell you and the Board about a breach (section 8(6)). It may use your data only for the lawful purpose you agreed to (sections 4 to 6). Section 44(2) removes IT Act section 43A from that date. Complain to the company first; if it does not resolve it, complain to the Data Protection Board. The Board can impose penalties up to Rs 250 crore, but penalties go to the Government (the Consolidated Fund of India, section 34), not to you. For money, use the ombudsman or the Consumer Commission. Appeals from the Board go to TDSAT within 60 days (section 29).

If it is fake: urgent steps

  1. If anyone asks for an OTP, PIN or payment, stop. It may be fraud.
  2. Call 1930 if money was lost, then file on cybercrime.gov.in.
  3. Report the number on Chakshu (Sanchar Saathi).

Step by step guides:

National Consumer Helpline, then the Consumer Commission

National Consumer Helpline, then the Consumer Commission

The National Consumer Helpline (NCH) is run by the Department of Consumer Affairs. It forwards your complaint to the company and tracks the reply. If that fails, you can file a case before a Consumer Commission on e-Jagriti.

Keep this ready before you start:

  • Bill, invoice, order ID or account number.
  • Your complaint to the company and its reply, if any.
  • Screenshots and dates.
  1. Call 1915 or 1800114000 (8 AM to 8 PM), or WhatsApp +91 8800001915.
  2. Or open consumerhelpline.gov.in and click Register Grievance. You can also use the NCH app or the UMANG app.
  3. Describe the problem, the company and what you want.
  4. Save the grievance number you are given.
  5. Use Track Your Grievance to see the company's reply. Use Upload Documents to add proof.
  6. If the company still does not fix it, you can file a consumer case on e-Jagriti, the official portal for Consumer Commissions. It uses OTP registration, online fees and virtual hearings.
  7. File the case within 2 years of the problem. This is the limit in section 69 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Checked on 1 November 2026 against: National Consumer Helpline (Department of Consumer Affairs), e-Jagriti: file a case before a Consumer Commission.

Complain about a violation of a child's rights to NCPCR

Complain about a violation of a child's rights to NCPCR

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) takes complaints about violations of child rights through its online system, e-Baal Nidan. The complainant's identity is kept confidential.

Keep this ready before you start:

  • The child's age and school or platform name.
  • What happened, with dates.
  • Screenshots, letters and your earlier complaint to the school or company.
  1. First write to the school principal or the company's grievance officer. Save the reply or ticket.
  2. If it is serious or not fixed, open NCPCR e-Baal Nidan.
  3. Register or log in, then lodge a complaint. Describe what happened and attach proof.
  4. Save the complaint number. You get updates by email or SMS.
  5. Track it with Track Complaint using your registered email or mobile.
  6. If a child faces sexual abuse or obscene content online, report it on cybercrime.gov.in or to the police at once.

Checked on 1 November 2026 against: NCPCR e-Baal Nidan: online complaints about child rights.

Related guides

See also when a platform shares your data with a third party and the escalation ladder.

Official sources

Checked on 1 November 2026. Company pages are labelled as the company's own words.

On this page
  1. Your rights
  2. How to fight it
  3. What people tried
  4. Step 1: verify
  5. If genuine
  6. Letters
  7. Can you sue?
  8. Data Protection Board
  9. If fake
  10. Sources