Content Guidelines

How to write an effective complaint that gets results — and what to avoid.

Writing an Effective Complaint

The best complaints on OUTCRY share these qualities:

Be specific. Include dates, amounts, reference numbers, and names of companies or agencies. "My passport application (File #A1234567) has been pending since January 15, 2026" is much stronger than "My passport is delayed."
Describe the impact. How has this affected you? Financial loss? Health risk? Wasted time? Quantify when possible.
State what you want. A refund? An apology? Service restoration? Policy change? Clear desired outcomes help others understand your case.
Stick to facts. Describe what happened to you. Use "I experienced..." rather than "This company always..." Personal experience is protected speech; unsupported generalizations are not.
Include evidence. Reference numbers, screenshots, receipts, and correspondence strengthen your complaint significantly.

Government

Municipal services, passport, tax, public infrastructure

Corporate

E-commerce, banking, insurance, telecom companies

Scam & Fraud

Online fraud, UPI scams, fake jobs, phishing

Healthcare

Hospital billing, insurance denial, pharmacy, negligence

Education

School fees, college admissions, coaching fraud

Transport

Airlines, railways, ride-sharing, road safety

Service

Electricity, internet, courier, utility providers

Neighborhood

Landlord disputes, construction, noise, housing

Environment

Pollution, illegal dumping, deforestation

Other

Workplace issues, identity theft, consumer rights

Personal data of others — Do not include phone numbers, addresses, Aadhaar/PAN numbers of other people
Unsubstantiated criminal accusations — "This person is a criminal" without evidence can be defamatory
Threats — No threats of violence, property damage, or harassment
Hate speech — No targeting based on race, religion, gender, caste, or other protected characteristics
Spam or promotion — Complaints must describe genuine personal experiences
Duplicate complaints — File one complaint per issue; updates can be added as comments

Do:"In my experience, the service was unacceptable."

Don't:"This company is a fraud and everyone who works there is a thief."

Do:"I was charged ₹5,000 for a service that was never delivered (Order #12345)."

Don't:"This company steals money from everyone."

You can post anonymously. When you do: