Shop charging above MRP? How to complain in India
Updated 2026-10 · General information, not legal advice.
Selling a packaged product above its printed maximum retail price is not allowed under the Legal Metrology rules. Proof of what you paid is what makes a complaint work.
When to use this
- A shop, mall or app charged above MRP
- The seller refused to give a bill
- A price sticker was placed over the original MRP
Step by step
- 1
Get the bill and photos
Ask for a bill. Photograph the product showing the MRP and the bill showing what you paid.
- 2
Ask the seller to refund the difference
Politely ask for the excess back; many shops will correct it.
- 3
Complain to the Legal Metrology department
Report to your state's Legal Metrology (Weights and Measures) department, with the proof.
- 4
Use the Consumer Helpline or Commission
Call 1915 or file on consumerhelpline.gov.in. For refund and compensation, you can file at the Consumer Commission.
Key facts
- Always keep the bill
- Rules for services such as restaurants and hotels differ from packaged goods
- Time limit at the Consumer Commission is 2 years
Get your free action plan
Tell us what happened. We show your options, draft the letters and track every deadline.
Common questions
Is it legal to charge above MRP?
For packaged goods, no. The price printed as MRP is the maximum.
Where do I report it?
To the state Legal Metrology department and the National Consumer Helpline.