How do I file a DTI complaint about a defective product?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
File a consumer complaint with the DTI, which enforces the Consumer Act (RA 7394) and mediates disputes over defective goods, dishonored warranties, price-tag overcharging, and "No Return, No Exchange" refusals. Prepare your evidence first: proof of purchase (receipt/invoice), photos or video of the defect, the warranty card or terms if any, and a copy of the written demand you sent the seller. You can file at the DTI's consumer-protection portal (dti.gov.ph/consumerprotection), call the DTI hotline 1-DTI (1-384), or go to the nearest DTI provincial/city office. The complaint is administrative and free — no lawyer required — and the DTI typically runs a mediation between you and the seller. For the general step-by-step on complaint mechanics, see the Filing Complaints cluster.
Primary sources
Frequently asked
What evidence should I bring to the DTI?
Proof of purchase (receipt/invoice), photos or video of the defect, any warranty card or terms, and a copy of the written demand you already sent the seller with its deadline.
How much does a DTI complaint cost?
A consumer complaint is administrative and free; you do not need a lawyer. The DTI mediates between you and the seller and can direct the seller to provide the lawful remedy.
Where exactly do I file?
Online at dti.gov.ph/consumerprotection, via the DTI hotline 1-DTI (1-384), or in person at the nearest DTI provincial or city office.
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Your rights when something you bought is defective — the repair, replacement, or refund a seller owes you under the Consumer Act (RA 7394, Arts. 68 and 100), why a blanket "No Return, No Exchange" sign is illegal (a deceptive sales act the DTI prohibits), the free implied warranty you get even without a warranty card (60 days to 1 year on new products), hidden defects discovered after purchase and the 6-month redhibition action under the Civil Code (Arts. 1561, 1566, 1567, 1571), the Price Tag Act rule that you cannot be charged more than the displayed tag (Art. 81), the Philippine Lemon Law (RA 10642) for a brand-new car with the same defect after 4 repair attempts within 12 months or 20,000 km, defective services, manufacturer vs seller liability, and how to file a DTI complaint. This cluster is about legitimate purchases that turn out defective — online-shopping fraud and fakes live in the Scams & Online Fraud cluster.