Flipkart guide
Flipkart SPF claim: how to get paid for damaged, wrong or missing returns
Short answer
File the SPF (Seller Protection Fund) claim within 7 days of receiving a damaged or wrong return, from Returns → Completed → Claim SPF in Seller Hub. Flipkart asks for clear photos of the product from all angles, a photo of the shipping label and a short description of the problem; a video is not required. For returns that never reach you, raise a missing claim once 60 days have passed.
What Flipkart SPF covers
SPF is Flipkart’s protection program for sellers: it pays compensation when a returned product comes back damaged, wrong or does not come back at all. It covers three kinds of return claim:
| Claim | When | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Damaged or defective | The returned product is damaged or not sellable | 7 days from receiving the return |
| Wrong product | A different product came back | 7 days from receiving the return |
| Missing return | The return never reached you after 60 days, or is marked “Do Not Expect Physical Delivery” | Ticket within 120 days of the return request (per Flipkart’s SPF FAQ) |
Flipkart’s seller terms add one exclusion: if your packaging broke Flipkart’s packaging guidelines, the item is not eligible for SPF.
What evidence Flipkart asks for
Flipkart’s SPF FAQ asks for clear images of the product from all angles showing the damage, an image of the shipping label, and a written description of the nature and extent of the damage. A video is not part of Flipkart’s requirement.
- Shipping label and product in the same photo, so the item is tied to the order.
- Close-ups of the damage, in good light and in focus.
- Photos of the outer packet as it arrived, especially if it is torn or re-taped.
- For electronics, the serial or IMEI number.
- Pick the claim reason that matches what you see: damaged and wrong are separate.
How to file an SPF claim in Seller Hub
Step 1: Open the return
Go to the Returns dashboard → Completed, find the order and click Claim SPF.
Step 2: Choose the reason and upload photos
Damaged or wrong product, then the photos and a short description.
Step 3: Submit and note the claim ID
Track it in the Seller Protection Fund tab by claim, order or order item ID.
Step 4: For a missing return
Payments → Seller Protection Fund → Create New → “Do Not Expect Physical Delivery”, then enter the order item ID and submit.
You can also file from Help → Contact Seller Support → Payments → SPF Related Queries → “I want to claim SPF”. If the return still shows In Transit, wait a day before filing.
What happens after you file
- Flipkart decides the claim in about 12 days and pays about 3–4 days after it is accepted (figures from Flipkart’s FAQ).
- The amount depends on the nature and extent of the damage; it is not always the full selling price.
- The rejection reason shows under Help → My Tickets → SPF Claims.
- If you disagree with a rejection or the amount, reopen it within 7 days through Contact Seller Support → Payments → SPF related queries.
Why Flipkart SPF claims get rejected
| Reason | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Filed after 7 days | Check returns the day they arrive; the order drops off the SPF list once the window closes |
| Shipping label not in the photos | Always photograph the label with the product |
| Damage not visible | Sharp, well-lit close-ups of the exact damage |
| Wrong claim reason | Damaged and wrong product are different claims |
| Packaging did not follow Flipkart guidelines | Pack to Flipkart’s packaging guidelines from the start |
| Appeal too late | Reopen within 7 days of the decision |