E-Commerce Buyer Rights in India
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Indian central (Union) law — Constitution of India, central Acts of Parliament, and Supreme Court decisions. State-level information reflects each state's own Acts and High Court rulings. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
The 2020 e-commerce rules were the first time Indian regulators put real obligations on Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and the rest. Before them, a refund was whatever the platform decided to give you. After them, the platform's own published policy became enforceable as law.
- Mandatory disclosures: product details, seller name and address, country of origin, price (with every tax and fee), return and refund policies, and the Grievance Officer's contact. All visible before the user completes checkout.
- No hidden charges: the total at checkout must include everything. The old "handling fee" that appeared on the payment page is no longer legal.
- Grievance Officer: every platform must appoint one who acknowledges complaints within 48 hours and resolves them within one month. The contact is in the terms of use or the footer.
- Refund timelines: the platform must follow the timeline its own policy promises. Missing it is a deficiency in service — actionable on its own.
- No fake reviews: platforms cannot display manipulated or paid reviews. The CPA 2019 treats this as an unfair trade practice.
- Right to return: the published return policy is binding. A unilateral "policy change" after you have bought is void against you.
- Data protection: personal data cannot be shared with third parties without explicit consent.
When does it apply?
- You ordered something online and got the wrong item, or something nothing like the photos.
- The platform is refusing a return or refund that its own policy clearly allows.
- You were charged fees never disclosed at checkout.
What to Do If an Online Seller in India Refuses a Refund or Misrepresents a Product
- Start with the platform's Grievance Officer portal. The contact is in the terms or the website footer — every major platform has one because the law requires it.
- If nothing happens within a month, file a complaint on the National Consumer Helpline at consumerhelpline.gov.in. NCH has direct escalation channels into Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra and the rest.
- If the refund is delayed past the platform's stated timeline, raise a chargeback dispute with your card issuer. RBI requires banks to resolve chargebacks within 45 days.
- If informal resolution fails, file a formal complaint on edaakhil.nic.in (or e-Jagriti). Take screenshots before they disappear from your order page.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not throw out the defective product. Most platforms require the item back as a condition of the refund — and the discarded packaging is sometimes the only proof you got the wrong thing.
- Do not agree to a gift voucher or store credit if you wanted a cash refund. For defective or misrepresented items, you have a right to your money back, not a credit you have to spend on the same platform.
- Do not ignore the platform's arbitration clause if there is one. You may need to exhaust that route first — though Consumer Commissions do have jurisdiction to override clearly unfair arbitration clauses.
Use the jurisdiction bar at the top of the page to pick your state — you'll see how state law differs from Indian central law.
8 states available
Common Questions
When does e-commerce buyer rights apply?
You ordered something online and got the wrong item, or something nothing like the photos.The platform is refusing a return or refund that its own policy clearly allows.You were charged fees never disclosed at checkout.
What should I do if an e-commerce platform in India refuses my refund or delivers a wrong product?
Start with the platform's Grievance Officer portal. The contact is in the terms or the website footer — every major platform has one because the law requires it.If nothing happens within a month, file a complaint on the National Consumer Helpline at consumerhelpline.gov.in. NCH has direct escalation channels into Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra and the rest.If the refund is delayed past the platform's stated timeline, raise a chargeback dispute with your card issuer. RBI requires banks to resolve chargebacks within 45 days.If informal resolution fails, file a formal complaint on edaakhil.nic.in (or e...
What mistakes should I avoid with e-commerce buyer rights?
Do not throw out the defective product. Most platforms require the item back as a condition of the refund — and the discarded packaging is sometimes the only proof you got the wrong thing.Do not agree to a gift voucher or store credit if you wanted a cash refund. For defective or misrepresented items, you have a right to your money back, not a credit you have to spend on the same platform.Do not ignore the platform's arbitration clause if there is one. You may need to exhaust that route first — though Consumer Commissions do have jurisdiction to override clearly unfair arbitration clauses.
E-Commerce Buyer Rights in other states
Same topic, different jurisdiction. Pick the one that applies to you.