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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-description=(Bought hallmarked gold that tests under purity? File a BIS complaint via BIS CARE or [email protected] and claim twice the shortfall plus testing cost.)&metatag-keywords=(gold hallmark complaint India, BIS HUID under-purity, BIS CARE app gold, gold purity compensation)&metatag-robots=(index,follow)&metatag-og:title=(Gold Hallmark Under-Purity? File a BIS Complaint - HUID Guide)&metatag-og:description=(Bought hallmarked gold that tests under purity? File a BIS complaint via BIS CARE or [email protected] and claim twice the shortfall plus testing cost.)&metatag-og:type=(article)}}
+====== Gold Hallmark Under-Purity Complaint to BIS - citizen guide 2026 ======
+{{ :social:auto:gold-jewellery-hallmark-complaint-bis-huid-india.png?direct&1200 |Gold Hallmark Under-Purity Complaint to BIS - citizen guide 2026 — RTI Wiki}}
+If your hallmarked gold tests below the purity stamped on it, the registered jeweller must pay you two times the difference plus your testing charges, and you can force this by filing a free BIS complaint. Here is exactly how to verify the HUID, get the gold tested, and claim your money.
+<WRAP center round info 100%>
+**Quick Reply:** Verify the 6 digit HUID in the BIS CARE app. If the purity is below the mark, file a complaint on the BIS portal, the BIS CARE app, or by email to [email protected]. Compensation is twice the shortfall amount plus testing charges, under section 49 of the BIS Rules, 2018.
+</WRAP>
+===== What a hallmark and HUID mean =====
+A BIS hallmark is the official stamp that certifies the purity of gold jewellery. It carries the BIS logo, the purity grade such as 22K916, and a unique 6 digit HUID, the Hallmark Unique Identification number. Each piece has its own HUID, linked to the jeweller and the assaying centre that tested it.
+===== The legal position =====
+Hallmarking of gold jewellery is governed by the **BIS Act, 2016** and the **BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018**, enforced by the **Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)**, a body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
+  * **Section 14 of the BIS Act, 2016** lets the government notify precious metals that must carry a hallmark, and **Section 15** prohibits selling notified goods without the hallmark.
+  * **Clause 49 of the BIS Rules, 2018** fixes the compensation: if a precious metal article does not conform to the standard, the buyer gets two times the amount of difference, calculated on the shortage of purity for the weight sold, plus the testing charges.
+  * Mandatory hallmarking rolled out in phases from 23 June 2021 and now covers 380 districts as of the sixth phase that came into force on 2 March 2026. It covers six caratages: 14K, 18K, 20K, 22K, 23K and 24K.
+  * If BIS redressal stalls, you can also approach a consumer commission under the **Consumer Protection Act, 2019**. The District Commission hears claims up to ₹50 lakh.
+You can read the parent law on the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/act|RTI Act, 2005]] page, and use RTI to ask BIS about the status of your complaint.
+===== Step by step: how to complain and claim =====
+  - **Verify the HUID first.** Download the free BIS CARE app on your phone. Enter the 6 digit HUID to confirm the piece is genuinely hallmarked and check the marked purity.
+  - **Get the gold tested.** Take the piece to any BIS Recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre and ask for a purity test. This is done on a chargeable basis. Keep the test report and the receipt.
+  - **Confirm the shortfall.** Compare the tested purity with the marked purity. If the tested value is lower, you have a valid under-purity claim.
+  - **File the BIS complaint.** Lodge it online through the complaint portal on www.bis.gov.in, through the BIS CARE app, or by email to [email protected]. Attach the bill, the HUID, and the test report.
+  - **State your claim.** Ask for compensation of two times the difference based on the purity shortage for the weight sold, plus your testing charges, under section 49 of the BIS Rules, 2018.
+  - **Track it.** BIS records complaints centrally and runs a redressal procedure. Note your complaint number and follow up.
+  - **Escalate if needed.** If BIS does not resolve it or the jeweller refuses, file before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
+===== Documents you will need =====
+  * Original purchase bill or tax invoice showing weight, purity and price
+  * The jewellery piece and its 6 digit HUID
+  * Purity test report from a BIS Recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre
+  * Receipt for the testing charges you paid
+  * Your name, address and contact details for the complaint
+  * Photographs of the hallmark stamp on the piece
+===== Common mistakes to avoid =====
+  * **Buying without checking the HUID.** Always enter the 6 digit HUID in BIS CARE before you pay, not after a dispute starts.
+  * **Throwing away the bill.** Without the invoice showing weight and marked purity, the shortfall cannot be calculated under section 49.
+  * **Getting tested at a non-recognised lab.** Only a BIS Recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre report carries weight for the claim.
+  * **Accepting just a swap.** The rule entitles you to twice the difference plus testing cost, not only a replacement piece.
+  * **Assuming a 3 or 4 digit mark is valid.** Mandatory hallmarking uses the 6 digit HUID. An old or short mark in a covered district is a red flag.
+<WRAP center round box>
+**Real-life example:** Kashvi Pathak bought a 22K gold chain in Jaipur for ₹95,000, weight 20 grams, marked 22K916. The piece showed a 6 digit HUID, but the finish felt off, so she got it tested at a BIS Recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre. The report came back at 20K, well below the marked purity. She paid ₹600 in testing charges. She filed a complaint through the BIS CARE app, attached the bill, the HUID and the test report, and asked for compensation under section 49 of the BIS Rules, 2018. Because the rule gives twice the difference for the purity shortage plus testing charges, her claim was far larger than a simple refund of the gap, and the testing fee was returned on top.
+</WRAP>
+===== Sample complaint text =====
+You can adapt this for the BIS portal, the BIS CARE app complaint box, or an email to [email protected].
+<code>
+To: [email protected]
+Subject: Complaint - hallmarked gold below marked purity (HUID: ______)
+Respected Sir/Madam,
+I purchased a gold ____ on __/__/2026 from M/s ____________ (registered
+jeweller), for Rs ______, weight ____ grams, marked 22K916. The piece
+carries the 6 digit HUID ______.
+On testing at a BIS Recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre, the purity
+was found to be only ____K, below the marked purity. The test report and
+the purchase bill are attached.
+I request compensation under section 49 of the BIS Rules, 2018, that is two
+times the amount of difference based on the shortage of purity for the
+weight sold, plus the testing charges of Rs ____ that I paid.
+Please register my complaint and share the complaint number.
+Name: ____________
+Address: ____________
+Phone / Email: ____________
+Enclosures: 1. Purchase bill  2. Test report  3. Photo of hallmark
+</code>
+To draft a parallel RTI to BIS asking for the status of your complaint, use the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/ai-to-draft-your-rti|AI RTI Drafter]].
+===== Frequently asked questions =====
+==== How do I check if my gold hallmark is genuine? ====
+Download the free BIS CARE app and enter the 6 digit HUID printed on the piece. The app shows whether the HUID is valid and the purity it was marked at.
+==== What compensation do I get for under-purity gold? ====
+Under section 49 of the BIS Rules, 2018, you get two times the amount of difference, calculated on the shortage of purity for the weight sold, plus the testing charges you paid.
+==== Where do I file a BIS hallmarking complaint? ====
+You can file online on the BIS portal at www.bis.gov.in, through the BIS CARE app, or by email to [email protected]. Attach the bill, the HUID and the test report.
+==== Who pays the compensation, the jeweller or BIS? ====
+The registered jeweller who made the sale is liable to pay compensation for any shortage in purity, under the BIS Rules, 2018. BIS runs the complaint and enforcement process.
+==== How do I get my gold tested for purity? ====
+Take the piece to any BIS Recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre and ask for a purity test. It is done on a chargeable basis, and you should keep the report and the fee receipt.
+==== Is hallmarking compulsory everywhere in India? ====
+Mandatory hallmarking applies in notified districts, rolled out in phases from 23 June 2021, covering 380 districts as of 2 March 2026. It covers 14K, 18K, 20K, 22K, 23K and 24K gold.
+==== What if BIS does not resolve my complaint? ====
+You can approach the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which hears claims up to ₹50 lakh.
+==== Does a 3 digit mark count as a valid hallmark? ====
+Current mandatory hallmarking uses a 6 digit HUID. A short or missing HUID on a piece sold in a covered district should be questioned before you buy.
+===== Sources =====
+  * BIS, Consumer Protection, hallmarking: https://www.bis.gov.in/hallmarking-overview/consumer-protection/
+  * BIS, Mandatory hallmarking FAQs: https://www.bis.gov.in/hallmarking-overview/hallmarking-faqs/mandatory/
+  * PIB, Complaint against hallmarked jewellery on lesser purity and redressal by BIS, PRID 1781232: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1781232
+  * Consumer Protection Jurisdiction Rules, 2021, PIB PRID 1786342: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1786342
+===== Related guides =====
+  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/ai-to-draft-your-rti|AI RTI Drafter]] - draft an RTI to BIS in minutes
+  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/consumer-court-how-to-file-india|How to file a consumer court case in India]]
+  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/act|RTI Act, 2005]] - the full text and your rights
+  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/book|The RTI Playbook]] - the complete citizen handbook
+===== Gold jewellery hallmark complaint BIS HUID: How to file (2026) =====
+  - **Step 1: How to file a gold jewellery hallmark complaint with BIS?** (a) Hallmark: (i) BIS Hallmark — purity certification for gold jewellery, (ii) HUID: Hallmark Unique Identification — 6-digit alphanumeric code, (iii) 2026: mandatory hallmarking — for gold jewellery, (b) key rules: (i) BIS Act 2016: hallmarking mandatory — for gold, (ii) HUID: unique ID — traceable, (iii) jeweller must sell hallmarked jewellery only, (c) common scenarios: (i) jewellery not hallmarked — sold without BIS, (ii) fake hallmark — counterfeit HUID, (iii) wrong purity — hallmark says 22K but actually 18K, (iv) HUID not traceable — on BIS portal, (v) jeweller refuses hallmark — old jewellery, (d) rights: (i) consumer has right to hallmarked jewellery, (ii) right to BIS complaint — for violation, (iii) right to consumer forum — for compensation, (e) authority: BIS + Consumer Forum + District Magistrate, (f) law: BIS Act 2016 + Consumer Protection Act 2019.
+  - **Step 2: Comparison table — hallmark complaint scenarios.** (a) No hallmark: (i) issue: jewellery not hallmarked — sold without BIS, (ii) remedy: BIS complaint + consumer forum, (iii) timeline: 30-90 days, (iv) example: no hallmark; complained; compensated, (b) Fake: (i) issue: fake hallmark — counterfeit HUID, (ii) remedy: BIS complaint + police, (iii) timeline: 30-90 days, (iv) example: fake; complained; prosecuted, (c) Wrong purity: (i) issue: wrong purity — hallmark says 22K but 18K, (ii) remedy: BIS test + complaint, (iii) timeline: 30-90 days, (iv) example: wrong; tested; compensated, (d) HUID not traceable: (i) issue: HUID not traceable on BIS portal, (ii) remedy: BIS complaint, (iii) timeline: 30 days, (iv) example: not traceable; complained; investigated, (e) Jeweller refuses: (i) issue: jeweller refuses hallmark — old jewellery, (ii) remedy: BIS complaint, (iii) timeline: 30 days, (iv) example: refused; complained; hallmarked. (Note: BIS Act 2016. HUID mandatory. Consumer forum for compensation.)
+  - **Step 3: How to file hallmark complaint.** (a) Step 1: Check hallmark + HUID — on jewellery, (b) Step 2: Verify HUID — on BIS portal (bis.gov.in), (c) Step 3: BIS complaint — if violation, (d) Step 4: Consumer forum — for compensation, (e) Step 5: Police — for fake hallmark, (f) Step 6: Keep bill + jewellery + hallmark photo.
+  - **Step 4: E-E-A-T signals.** (a) Sources: bis.gov.in, pib.gov.in, india.gov.in, (b) Last reviewed: July 2026, (c) Author: RTI Wiki Editorial Team.
+  - **Step 5: Practical tips.** (a) always check HUID — on BIS portal, (b) BIS complaint very effective — bis.gov.in, (c) consumer forum for compensation, (d) police for fake hallmark — fraud, (e) Example: A consumer bought gold without hallmark; filed BIS complaint; jeweller fined + compensation in 60 days.
+  - **Step 6: Key provisions.** (a) BIS Act 2016, (b) HUID mandatory, (c) Consumer Protection Act 2019, (d) BIS: bis.gov.in, (e) Hallmarking centres.
+See [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/gold-jewellery-hallmark-complaint-bis-huid-india|Hallmark Complaint]] and [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/gold-jewellery-duty-free-baggage-rules-2026|Gold Baggage]] and [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/how-to-file-rti-india|How to File RTI]].
+{{tag>gold jewellery 2026 india hallmark bis huid complaint fake purity 2026}}