Consumer Protection Services & Expert Assistance
Standing With Consumers. Every Step of the Way.
Unfair trade practices, denied claims, and builder defaults are not just inconveniences — they are violations of your legal rights. PRAN Foundation's Expert Desk provides structured, professional guidance to help you respond with clarity and confidence.
Called the National Consumer Helpline (1915) but the company still hasn't responded? Written to the grievance officer with no resolution? PRAN's Expert Desk is the next step. We provide structured legal assistance when standard channels fail.
Consumer fraud, misleading advertisements, wrongful insurance rejections, and builder defaults are far more common than they should be. Yet most affected consumers either do not know their rights or do not know where to begin. PRAN (Policy Research Action Network) Foundation's Expert Desk bridges this gap — combining legal expertise with a public interest mandate to provide structured, honest guidance. We work exclusively for consumers. We do not represent companies or service providers in consumer disputes.
A Three-Step Process — Starting Free
No vague advice, no upfront commitment. Every engagement begins with an honest assessment of your case's merit — at no cost. You decide whether to proceed only after you know where you stand.
WhatsApp or Submit a Case
Tell us your issue on WhatsApp or through our intake form. Attach key documents — invoice, policy, ticket, or correspondence. Our team reviews the facts and tells you honestly whether the case has merit — saving your time and resources before you spend a rupee.
Start on WhatsApp →Expert Strategy Session
If the review confirms merit, we schedule a focused consultation — by video or phone. We analyse your case under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 or RERA, map the procedural timeline, and calculate the full compensation you are entitled to claim — not just the refund, but interest, mental harassment, and litigation costs.
- 30-minute structured review
- Full damage assessment memo
- Clear roadmap — notice or complaint?
Notice, Mediation or Filing
Our preferred route is resolution without a courtroom. A formally drafted Legal Notice on PRAN's letterhead — backed by an experienced consumer law practitioner — changes the dynamic entirely. Where appropriate, we also facilitate mediation. Six in ten valid disputes resolve at this stage. For cases that must go further, we draft and file the formal complaint.
- 60–70% resolve at notice stage
- Mediation as a faster, lower-cost path
- Full complaint drafting if needed
What We Offer — and What It Costs
Access to justice should not depend on a consumer's ability to pay. Our model begins with free guidance and scales only as far as your situation genuinely requires — with complete transparency at every stage.
Not every dispute needs paid expert intervention. If you have a low-value issue or are unable to afford professional assistance, we provide honest guidance on available options and connect you directly to the right channels — so you can pursue your rights without cost.
Our preferred approach is resolution without litigation. A formally drafted Legal Notice on PRAN's letterhead — dispatched by registered post — signals to the company that the matter has moved from "customer service" to "expert resolution." Where appropriate, we also facilitate mediation for a negotiated settlement.
Six in ten valid disputes resolve at this stage. It is almost always worth trying before filing a formal complaint.
If the notice stage does not resolve the dispute, we assist in preparing and filing a complete consumer complaint before the appropriate District Consumer Commission. We also support consumers already in proceedings who need expert help filing a Reply or preparing evidence.
Statutory court fees and third-party costs (notarisation, certified copies) are at actuals, separate from the above.
₹11,000
High-value builder disputes, multi-party insurance matters, RERA proceedings, and cases before State or National Commissions require sustained expert involvement — from first assessment through to execution of the final order. We scope these individually and agree on a fee appropriate to the complexity.
Who We Assist
Our Expert Desk supports individual consumers navigating personal disputes and organisations seeking training, compliance guidance, or research partnership.
For Individual Consumers
For Organisations — NGOs, RWAs & Institutions
Refer Cases to PRAN — We Are Your Legal Capacity Partner
Consumer organisations do vital work in awareness and initial grievance filing. But when a case needs a legal notice, a formal complaint, or sustained expert involvement, most organisations have no in-house legal capacity. PRAN fills that gap — as your partner, not a competitor.
Free Merit Filter
PRAN assesses every referred case before accepting it. Your organisation never has to tell a member their case is weak — we do that, candidly, with explanation.
Outcome Reporting
We report back on every referred case — what happened, how it was resolved. You get data to inform your own advocacy and funder reporting.
No Fee Sharing
Our referral arrangements are clean. No commissions, no referral fees. The benefit to your organisation is service quality for your members — and a stronger reputation for follow-through.
We Claim What You Are Legally Entitled To
A refund is only the beginning. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, a successful claimant may be entitled to a full set of remedies — far beyond the initial amount paid.
What Makes PRAN Different
We are not a legal services aggregator, a notice-sending platform, or a commercial law firm. We are a registered Section 8 non-profit whose mandate is consumer rights — and that shapes everything about how we work.
Consumers Only — Always
PRAN never represents the opposite party in a consumer dispute. Our independence is absolute and unconditional.
Honest First Assessment
We tell you the real strength of your case before you commit — even if it means telling you it is weak.
Published Research & Book
"Consumer Protection Laws in India" — a published guide by PRAN Foundation's founder, available on Amazon Kindle. Research, not just services.
Supreme Court Practice
Led by Adv. Amarjeet Singh Panghal — practising at the Supreme Court of India and Patiala House Court Complex, with over 20 years in consumer and constitutional law.
Board of Mentors
PRAN's governance includes a six-member Board of Mentors drawn from law, academia, and civil society — bringing independent oversight and credibility.
Section 8 Non-Profit · 12A/80G
PRAN is a registered non-profit with NGO Darpan listing and 12A/80G approval. Donations are tax-deductible. Our mission is access to justice — not profit.
"A consumer who knows their rights is not a complainant — they are a participant in the market's accountability system. PRAN's Expert Desk exists to close the distance between the law as written and justice as lived."
Talk to Us — It Costs Nothing to Begin
WhatsApp us your issue in plain language. We will review it and respond with an honest assessment within 24 hours — no form, no commitment, no charge at this stage.
