Where to file a consumer complaint — by country
Refunds, faulty goods, overpricing and warranty disputes: these are the free government consumer-protection authorities in each country. Most can order a refund or fine a business without going to court.
Keep the receipt, the packaging and any advertising or chat messages — consumer authorities act far faster with proof. Complain to the seller in writing first; most bodies expect it, and in some countries (e.g. Bangladesh) a successful complainant is even paid a share of the fine imposed on the business.
| Country | Official body | Call | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | CFPBComplaints about banks, credit cards, loans, debt collectors and credit reports — most get a company response within 15 days.Legal basis: Consumer Financial Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) | — | www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint |
| United Arab Emirates | Ministry of Economy — Consumer ProtectionFederal consumer-protection authority under Federal Law 15/2020 — refunds, warranties, overpricing, and e-commerce disputes. File through the ministry or the u.ae national portal.Legal basis: Consumer Protection Law (Federal Law 15/2020) | — | www.moec.gov.ae/en/consumer-protection |
| Saudi Arabia | ZATCAZakat and VAT registration, filing, refunds and disputes, including objections against an assessment.Legal basis: VAT Law (Royal Decree M/113) and Zakat regulations | — | zatca.gov.sa/en |
| Qatar | Ministry of Commerce & IndustryConsumer-protection department for refunds, overpricing, warranties and commercial complaints; also product-standards and counterfeit reporting.Legal basis: Consumer Protection Law (Law 8/2008) | — | www.moci.gov.qa/en |
| Bahrain | National Bureau for RevenueVAT and excise registration, filing, refunds and disputes, including objections against an assessment.Legal basis: VAT Law (Decree-Law 48/2018) | — | www.nbr.gov.bh |
| Oman | Public Authority for Consumer ProtectionFree investigation and enforcement of consumer complaints — refunds, warranties, deceptive practices, counterfeit goods, and price gouging. Can order refunds and impose fines up to OMR 50,000 without going to court.Legal basis: Consumer Protection Law (Royal Decree 66/2014) | 1222 | pacp.gov.om |
| India | National Consumer HelplinePre-litigation consumer help on 1915; if unresolved, file with the District/State/National Consumer Commissions online through e-Daakhil.Legal basis: Consumer Protection Act 2019 | 1915 | consumerhelpline.gov.in |
| Pakistan | State Bank of PakistanCentral bank; consumer-protection channel and loan-restructuring framework for banking and finance issues.Legal basis: State Bank of Pakistan Act 1956 and Banking Companies Ordinance 1962 | — | www.sbp.org.pk |
| Bangladesh | DNCRPFile consumer complaints on 16121 or online; a successful complainant can receive 25% of the fine imposed on the business.Legal basis: Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009 | 16121 | dncrp.portal.gov.bd |
| Indonesia | BPKNNational Consumer Protection Agency — complaints about goods and services, from e-commerce to property and healthcare.Legal basis: Consumer Protection Law (Law 8/1999) | — | bpkn.go.id |
| Ireland | CCPCConsumer rights, refunds and returns, product safety, and scam awareness; reports feed enforcement action.Legal basis: Consumer Protection Act 2007 | — | www.ccpc.ie/consumers |
| France | DGCCRF — SignalConsoReport a business for a consumer problem — refunds, faulty goods, misleading pricing, scams — via SignalConso; the DGCCRF investigates and can sanction traders.Legal basis: Code de la consommation | — | signal.conso.gouv.fr |
| Germany | VerbraucherzentraleState consumer-advice centres help with contracts, refunds, faulty goods and unfair terms; the vzbv brings collective actions.Legal basis: Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) | — | www.verbraucherzentrale.de |
| Singapore | CASEConsumer complaints and mediation — refunds, faulty goods, unfair contract terms; the CCCS handles wider market/consumer-protection enforcement.Legal basis: Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act | — | www.case.org.sg |
| Denmark | ForbrugerombudsmandenEnforces marketing and consumer law; for an individual dispute with a trader, the Consumer Complaints Board (Forbrugerklagenævn) gives a low-cost binding decision.Legal basis: Markedsføringsloven (Marketing Practices Act) | — | www.forbrugerombudsmanden.dk |
| Iceland | NeytendastofaConsumer protection — misleading marketing, unfair terms, product safety; the Consumer Disputes Committee (kærunefnd lausafjár- og þjónustukaupa) rules on individual disputes.Legal basis: Act on Consumer Protection and Business Practices | — | www.neytendastofa.is |
| Canada | OBSIFree, independent resolution of disputes with banks and investment firms — unauthorised transactions, fraud, unsuitable advice — after the firm's own process.Legal basis: Federal financial-consumer framework (FCAC) | — | www.obsi.ca |
| Australia | ACCCConsumer rights under the Australian Consumer Law — refunds, guarantees, unsafe products; individual disputes go to your state Fair Trading office and tribunal (VCAT/NCAT/QCAT).Legal basis: Australian Consumer Law (Competition and Consumer Act 2010) | — | www.accc.gov.au |
| New Zealand | Commerce Commission / Consumer ProtectionConsumer rights under the Consumer Guarantees and Fair Trading Acts; small money disputes go to the Disputes Tribunal.Legal basis: Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and Fair Trading Act 1986 | — | comcom.govt.nz |
| Mexico | PROFECOConsumer complaints and conciliation — refunds, warranties, overpricing, abusive terms; can mediate and sanction businesses.Legal basis: Ley Federal de Protección al Consumidor | — | www.profeco.gob.mx |
Each entry links to the official body and shows the date we last verified it. This is legal information, not advice, and we don't take payment to list anyone. See the full country directories for every channel, not just the headline one.