LPG Overcharge: Get the Extra Money Refunded

If your LPG delivery person demanded a “tip”, “trolley charge” or any cash over the printed cylinder price, you have paid too much and you can get it back. The price of a domestic refill is fixed by the oil company, and home delivery is already part of that price. This guide walks you through the exact complaint ladder, what you are actually supposed to pay, the proof to keep, and the one helpline number people wrongly call for this.

1. Tell the delivery person and distributor first. Refuse the extra demand on the spot if you can, and call your gas agency (distributor) office the same day. Many overcharges are settled here once the agency knows you will escalate.
2. Raise it on the oil company app or customer care. Use the official Indane, Bharat Gas or HP Gas app or the company customer care number to log a written complaint with your consumer number and the date of delivery. A written record matters more than a phone call.
3. Escalate to the OMC area or distributor office. If the agency does not act, complain to the area office of your oil marketing company (OMC). Quote your earlier complaint reference.
4. Approach the state LPG nodal or grievance officer. Each OMC has state-level grievance officers for LPG consumers. Send your complaint with the cash memo and the amount overcharged.
5. File on the MoPNG e-SEVA portal. As the final government step, lodge your grievance with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at https://www.mopnge-seva.in. This covers all three public-sector OMCs.

Any extra amount collected over the notified price can be complained about, and an overcharge is refundable. Keep pushing up the ladder until the extra money is returned. For drafting power and follow-up discipline, keep The RTI Playbook handy.

For a domestic LPG refill you pay only the retail selling price (RSP) notified by your oil marketing company, that is, Indane and IndianOil, Bharat Gas and BPCL, or HP Gas and HPCL. This RSP is the all-in price for the cylinder delivered to your home.

Home delivery of a domestic refill is part of the service the distributor is paid to provide. A distributor or delivery person is not permitted to demand extra money over the notified RSP, whether it is called a delivery charge, trolley charge, stair charge, or a tip. You may choose to give a small voluntary tip if you wish, but no one can make it a condition of handing over your cylinder.

If you are not sure of the current RSP for your city, it is printed on the cash memo and shown inside your gas company app. Match what you paid in cash against that figure. Anything above it is the overcharge you can reclaim.

A complaint moves faster when you can show what happened. Before and right after delivery, keep:

• The cash memo or receipt for the refill, which shows the official RSP.
• The amount you actually paid in cash, and the difference over the RSP.
• The delivery person's name and, if possible, the vehicle or scooter number.
• The date and time of delivery and your LPG consumer number.
• Any SMS or app message confirming the booking and the price.

Even a quick note on your phone with the delivery person's name and the extra amount is useful. If you paid digitally, the transaction record is strong proof of the total you were charged.

1906 is the LPG emergency helpline for gas leaks only. Call it if you smell gas, suspect a leak, or face a fire risk. It is a safety line and it is not a billing or overcharge complaint number.

For overcharging, use the distributor, the OMC app and customer care, the state grievance officer, and the MoPNG e-SEVA portal as set out above. People often dial 1906 for money disputes and lose time. Use the right channel from the start so your complaint reaches someone who can order a refund.

This guide is about being charged extra over the price. If instead your cylinder simply never arrived after booking, see cooking gas cylinder not delivered, which is a separate problem with its own remedy.

No. For a domestic refill you owe only the retail selling price notified by the oil company, and home delivery is already included in that price. Any cash demanded over the RSP is an overcharge you can complain about and recover.

A separate delivery, trolley, or stair charge over the notified RSP is not something a delivery person can force on you for a domestic refill. A voluntary tip is your choice and can never be made a condition of getting your cylinder.

Complain first to the distributor and on the oil company app or customer care, then to the OMC area office, then the state LPG grievance officer, and finally on the MoPNG e-SEVA portal. Attach the cash memo and the extra amount paid.

No. 1906 is only the emergency helpline for gas leaks and safety. For billing or overcharge issues, use the distributor, OMC app or customer care, the state grievance officer, and the MoPNG e-SEVA portal instead.

Keep the cash memo showing the RSP, the amount you actually paid, the delivery person's name and vehicle number, the date and time, your consumer number, and any booking SMS or app message. Digital payment records are especially strong proof.

Take it past the agency to your oil company's area office and state LPG grievance officer, and lodge it on the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas e-SEVA portal. You can also use the national consumer routes below if the overcharge is not refunded.

If the agency and OMC do not refund the extra money, widen the pressure. You can raise a general government grievance through CPGRAMS, call the national consumer helpline explained at NCH 1915 consumer helpline, and for a persistent or larger loss, consider a consumer complaint at the NCDRC. The same overcharging logic applies to other essential services, as in our guide on ambulance overcharging rights.

Act quickly, keep your proof, and use the correct ladder. The price on the cash memo is the price you owe, and the rest is refundable.

LPG overcharge and extra delivery charge — complete guide on complaining and filing RTI:

1. Step 1: The problem. (a) LPG (cooking gas) consumers in India frequently face overcharging by delivery agents — who charge Rs 20-50 extra per cylinder — beyond the official price — claiming “delivery charges” or “transportation charges” — which is illegal — because the official price of the LPG cylinder is all-inclusive — and includes the delivery cost, (b) the official price (subsidised: approximately Rs 500-600 per 14.2 kg cylinder — and non-subsidised: approximately Rs 800-1,000 — varies by state and company — check the company's website — or the Ministry of Petroleum's website — for the current price), © the delivery agent: (i) demands extra money — beyond the official price, (ii) refuses to deliver — if the consumer does not pay extra, (iii) does not give a receipt — for the extra amount, (iv) threatens to delay the next delivery — if the consumer complains.
2. Step 2: Know your rights. (a) the official price is all-inclusive (the price fixed by the oil company — Indian Oil (Indane), BP (Bharat Gas), HP (HP Gas) — includes the cost of the cylinder, the delivery, and the dealer's commission — the consumer should not pay any extra amount), (b) the delivery agent is not an employee (the delivery agent is a contractor — or a distributor's employee — and is not authorized to charge extra — the consumer should pay only the official price — and ask for the bill), © the bill is mandatory (the delivery agent must give a bill — with the cylinder price, the subsidy amount, and the total — and the consumer should insist on the bill — and verify the amount), (d) the DBTL (Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG — PAHAL): the subsidy is credited directly to the consumer's bank account — and the consumer pays the full price — at the time of delivery — and the subsidy is credited later — so the delivery agent should collect only the full price — and not extra.
3. Step 3: How to complain. (a) complain to the distributor (call the distributor's number — or visit the distributor's office — with the consumer number, the booking number, and the details of the overcharge — the distributor should: (i) take action against the delivery agent, (ii) refund the extra amount, (iii) ensure no future overcharging), (b) complain to the oil company: (i) Indian Oil (Indane): call 1906 — or register on iocl.com — or the Indane app, (ii) BP (Bharat Gas): call 1906 — or register on bharatgas.com — or the Bharat Gas app, (iii) HP (HP Gas): call 1906 — or register on hindustanpetroleum.com — or the HP Gas app, © complain to the Ministry of Petroleum (through the PGMS portal — pgportal.gov.in — or the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System — with the consumer number and the details), (d) complain to the Consumer Court (for deficiency of service — and overcharging — the consumer can file a complaint — in the District Consumer Forum — for refund of the extra amount — and compensation — for harassment), (e) register a complaint with the Legal Metrology Department (for overcharging — and for not giving a receipt — under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 — the department can fine the distributor — and the delivery agent).
4. Step 4: File RTI. File RTI with: (a) the oil company (Indian Oil / BP / HP — through the Ministry of Petroleum) asking for: (i) the official price (of the 14.2 kg cylinder — for [state] — for [month/year] — the subsidised price — and the non-subsidised price — and the dealer's commission), (ii) the delivery charges policy (whether the delivery charges are included in the price — or charged extra — and the policy — and the circular), (iii) the complaint status (complaint number [number] — filed on [date] — the action taken — and the resolution), (iv) the total complaints (received by the company — regarding overcharging — from [date] to [date] — and the action taken — and the penalty imposed), (b) the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas asking for: (i) the LPG pricing policy (the subsidy — the non-subsidised price — the dealer's commission — and the delivery charges — and the latest circular), (ii) the PAHAL scheme status (the subsidy credited — to the consumer [consumer number] — for [month/year] — the amount — and the date), (iii) the total overcharging complaints (received by the Ministry — from [date] to [date] — and the action taken — and the penalty), © the Legal Metrology Department (asking for: (i) the action taken on the complaint (complaint number [number] — the inspection — and the penalty — and the status), (ii) the total complaints (regarding LPG overcharging — from [date] to [date] — and the action taken)).
5. Step 5: Evidence to collect. (a) the bill (insist on the bill — from the delivery agent — with the cylinder price, the subsidy, and the total — if the agent does not give the bill — note the consumer number and the booking number), (b) the SMS (the booking confirmation SMS — and the delivery SMS — which show the official price — and the booking details), © the bank statement (showing the subsidy credit — and the full price payment — if through DBTL), (d) the recording (if possible — record the delivery agent's demand for extra money — on the phone — as evidence), (e) the witness (if a neighbor or family member was present — during the delivery — who can corroborate the overcharge), (f) the complaint number (from the distributor — or the company — or the Ministry — for follow-up — and for RTI).
6. Step 6: Common LPG issues. (a) delayed delivery (the cylinder is not delivered within the stipulated time — 2-7 days — and the consumer has to follow up — or buy from the open market — at a higher price), (b) wrong cylinder (the delivery agent gives a 5 kg cylinder — instead of 14.2 kg — or a used cylinder — instead of a refilled one — verify the seal and the weight), © subsidy not credited (the subsidy is not credited to the bank account — because: (i) the Aadhaar is not linked, (ii) the bank account is wrong, (iii) the LPG consumer number is not linked — file RTI with the oil company — and the Ministry), (d) connection surrender (the consumer wants to surrender the connection — and get the refund of the security deposit — but the distributor delays — or refuses — file RTI — and complain), (e) new connection (the consumer applies for a new connection — and the distributor demands extra money — or documents — or delays — file RTI — and complain to the company).
7. Step 7: Practical tips. (a) pay only the official price (check the official price — on the company's website — or the app — and pay only that — refuse to pay extra), (b) insist on the bill (the bill is the proof — of the official price — and the payment — do not accept delivery without the bill), © pay online (if possible — pay online — through the app — or the website — so the delivery agent cannot demand extra), (d) complain immediately (do not wait — complain to the distributor — and the company — immediately — with the details — and the evidence), (e) file RTI (to get the official price — and the delivery charges policy — and the complaint status — and the action taken), (f) Example: A consumer was charged Rs 50 extra per cylinder — for 6 months — the consumer complained to the distributor — who did not act — the consumer filed RTI with the oil company — got the official price — and the delivery charges policy — showing that the delivery is included — the consumer filed a complaint with the Legal Metrology Department — the department inspected the distributor — and fined Rs 10,000 — and the distributor refunded the extra amount — Rs 1,800 — to the consumer — and stopped overcharging.

See LPG Overcharge Complaint and Find PIO.