The drawer’s bank is in another city. Where do I file?

Where your bank branch (the one you deposited the cheque in) is located, under Section 142(2)(a). If you presented it over the counter at the drawer’s bank, then where that branch is.

Is the consultation really free?

Yes. The consultation and case assessment are free, with no obligation. If you decide to go ahead, there is still nothing to pay upfront: FundRaksha Legal charges 30% only on the amount actually recovered. Court fees, if a matter goes to court, are borne by the client.

Are there any upfront fees?

No. FundRaksha Legal charges a 30% success fee, only on the amount actually recovered. If nothing is recovered, there is no success fee. Court fees, if any, are borne by you and told to you upfront.

How fast does my case start?

Within 24 hours of receiving your complete documents, a dedicated advocate is assigned and the legal notice is sent as an e-notice, followed by registered post.

Do most cases go to court?

No. About 60% of our cases settle before anything is filed, through the notice, negotiation and a payment plan. The rest go to MSME Samadhaan, a Section 138 complaint, a civil suit or arbitration, handled by the same advocate.

Do you work with businesses anywhere in India?

Yes. Notices, filings and follow-ups are handled digitally, and advocates appear wherever the matter is heard. FundRaksha works with suppliers, manufacturers, traders, distributors and service businesses in every state.

Reference

Cheque bounce and recovery courts in Surat

Surat’s textile market runs on credit: weavers, processors and traders in Ring Road, Sahara Darwaja and Pandesara routinely wait 60 to 120 days, and parties in other states sometimes simply stop answering. Because many transactions are between traders, the right route depends on the paperwork: bounced cheques go under Section 138, manufacturers with Udyam registration can use MSME Samadhaan, and trading dues go by notice, settlement and a recovery suit.

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1,000+

businesses onboarded

₹50 Cr+

invoice value handled

700+

businesses got their money back

60%

of cases settled before court

Short answer

In Surat: Judicial Magistrate First Class courts at the Athwalines court complex for Section 138; District Court, Surat, and its Commercial Court for recovery suits. A Section 138 complaint is filed where the payee’s bank branch is located; the notice must go out within 30 days of the return memo, and the complaint within one month after the 15-day payment window.

Choosing the route in Surat

Situation	Route	Forum
Cheque bounced	Section 138 complaint	Judicial Magistrate First Class courts at the Athwalines court complex for Section 138
Udyam-registered supplier, payment over 45 days late	MSME Samadhaan	Gujarat Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council
Invoice or contract dues with no genuine defence	Summary suit (Order XXXVII CPC)	District Court, Surat, and its Commercial Court for recovery suits.
Contract with arbitration clause	Arbitration	Tribunal; enforcement through the civil court

Main industries and typical dues in Surat

synthetic textiles and sarees, diamond cutting and polishing, embroidery and jari, chemicals and dyes, packaging. See the Surat payment recovery hub for the routes that work for each.

How FundRaksha handles filing

Your dedicated advocate sends the notice within 24 hours, negotiates, and files in the Surat courts or before the Council if needed, appearing at hearings so you rarely have to. Court fees are at actuals and disclosed before filing; our fee is 30% only on recovery, after a free consultation.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-08. Information for Indian businesses; not legal advice.

Free, no obligation

Free consultation and case assessment

मुफ़्त सलाह, कोई शुल्क नहीं

Talk to a FundRaksha recovery expert for free. In one call we assess your unpaid invoices and tell you honestly what can be recovered, how, and in roughly how long. No fee for the call, no obligation, and no upfront cost if you go ahead: our fee is a percentage of what we actually recover.

A review of your invoices, purchase orders, delivery proof and the buyer’s replies
An honest assessment of recovery chances and the right route: reminders, legal notice, MSME Samadhaan, Section 138 or a civil suit
A realistic timeline and the exact cost: nothing upfront, a success fee only on recovery
A dedicated advocate assigned within 24 hours if you decide to proceed

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Keep these ready

The unpaid invoice(s) and payment terms
Purchase order, delivery challan, e-way bill or proof of service
Messages, emails or letters about the payment
For a bounced cheque: the cheque and the bank return memo

No recovery, no fee. Court fees, if any, are borne by the client and told upfront.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Rarely. Your advocate appears; you may be needed once to record evidence in a Section 138 case, which can often be done by affidavit.

This page is general information for Indian businesses, not legal advice for your specific case. Laws, rates and procedures change; speak to an advocate before acting. FundRaksha LegalTech Pvt Ltd is a technology company; legal work is carried out by enrolled advocates.