Contract or service not delivered
What to prepare
- Identify the contracting party.
- Compare the promised scope, payments and completion terms with what happened.
- Keep the agreement, amendments, payments and complete messages.
On this page12 topics
Civil Law in Shenzhen.
Start with the agreement, the facts and the result you need.
For civil disputes in mainland Shenzhen: organise the facts, compare possible routes and prepare for a qualified consultation.
Official sources linkedDashboard checked 18 Oct 2026Mainland Shenzhen scopeGeneral information, not legal advice
Editorial illustrations, not an official court service or a photograph of a verified court.
Check urgent issues firstSafety, police involvement, notices or a close deadline
If any apply, seek appropriate help early.
Civil Dispute Route Finder
Possible starting points, not a legal conclusion.
Choices stay on this page unless you explicitly save a browser copy. Claim value and physical location do not determine fees or jurisdiction. Nothing is submitted to an authority.
What the possible procedures mean
- Direct negotiationA clear request to the other party.
- People’s mediationVoluntary local mediation.
- Consumer complaintCheck the authority’s remit.
- Arbitration reviewCheck an applicable agreement.
- Civil court filingVerify jurisdiction and requirements.
- Qualified legal adviceFor complex or high-risk issues.
What happened?
Choose the starting point closest to your situation.
Faulty product or disputed consumer service
What to prepare
- Keep the order, seller identity, terms and evidence of the problem.
- Ask the seller or platform for a clear response.
- A complaint does not itself award compensation.
Money owed, damage or compensation claim
What to prepare
- Separate the amount claimed from proof of responsibility and loss.
- Maintain an itemised calculation and payment history.
- Keep records linking the loss to the event.
A useful first approach
A simple sequence to get organised and choose the right route.
Write what happened
A short chronology, who was involved, the key documents and the outcome you want.
Preserve useful records
Contracts, complete chats, payments, photos, notices and delivery records.
Choose the correct route
Negotiation, mediation, consumer complaint, arbitration or court depend on facts and agreements.
Get case-specific help early
Especially for safety, children, liberty, property, deadlines or significant money.
Build your evidence file
Keep a clear record from the start.
| Date | What happened | Person / company | File-name reference | Actions |
|---|
No events added. Use brief, non-confidential notes; keep original evidence separately.
Your file-name references
Files are never opened, uploaded or stored here. Selecting a file records its name only. This is an organiser, not a secure document vault or proof of admissibility.
Clear the current records and this browser’s saved copy? Downloads and copies elsewhere will remain.
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Your preparation progress
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Ticking a box records your own review only. It does not verify evidence quality or legal sufficiency.
Mediation, complaint, arbitration and court are different
↔ Scroll sideways to see all nine comparison columns.
Direct negotiationTry to resolve directly
- Who can use it
- The parties
- Typical result
- Agreement, if reached
- Binding / enforceable
- Depends on the agreement
- Possible costs
- Time / agreed expenses
- Representation
- Not necessarily
- Evidence needed
- Relevant records
- Where to start
- Other party
People’s mediationVoluntary third-party assistance
- Who can use it
- Parties to a suitable dispute
- Typical result
- Mediation agreement
- Binding / enforceable
- Confirmation / enforcement needs review
- Possible costs
- Committee mediation: no charge
- Representation
- Check your needs
- Evidence needed
- Basic facts and supporting records
- Where to start
- Local mediation committee / 12348
Administrative consumer complaintConsumer dispute within authority’s remit
- Who can use it
- Qualifying consumers
- Typical result
- Possible administrative mediation
- Binding / enforceable
- Not a private compensation award
- Possible costs
- Ask about testing / related costs
- Representation
- Not necessarily
- Evidence needed
- Trader, transaction and specific request
- Where to start
- 12315 / market regulator
ArbitrationResolve an arbitrable dispute
- Who can use it
- Check agreement and statutory requirements
- Typical result
- Arbitral award
- Binding / enforceable
- Statutory challenge / enforcement rules
- Possible costs
- Institution’s rules and fees vary
- Representation
- Consider qualified advice
- Evidence needed
- Agreement, claim and evidence
- Where to start
- Agreed institution / qualified adviser
Civil litigationCourt determination of a claim
- Who can use it
- Eligible claimants; competent court
- Typical result
- Judgment / ruling
- Binding / enforceable
- Procedural rules and enforcement apply
- Possible costs
- Court fees and other costs vary
- Representation
- Consider qualified advice
- Evidence needed
- Claim-specific evidence
- Where to start
- Court filing service / 12368
| Option | Purpose | Who can use it | Typical result | Binding / enforceable | Possible costs | Representation | Evidence needed | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct negotiation | Try to resolve directly | The parties | Agreement, if reached | Depends on the agreement | Time / agreed expenses | Not necessarily | Relevant records | Other party |
| People’s mediation | Voluntary third-party assistance | Parties to a suitable dispute | Mediation agreement | Confirmation / enforcement needs review | Committee mediation: no charge | Check your needs | Basic facts and supporting records | Local mediation committee / 12348 |
| Administrative consumer complaint | Consumer dispute within authority’s remit | Qualifying consumers | Possible administrative mediation | Not a private compensation award | Ask about testing / related costs | Not necessarily | Trader, transaction and specific request | 12315 / market regulator |
| Arbitration | Resolve an arbitrable dispute | Check agreement and statutory requirements | Arbitral award | Statutory challenge / enforcement rules | Institution’s rules and fees vary | Consider qualified advice | Agreement, claim and evidence | Agreed institution / qualified adviser |
| Civil litigation | Court determination of a claim | Eligible claimants; competent court | Judgment / ruling | Procedural rules and enforcement apply | Court fees and other costs vary | Consider qualified advice | Claim-specific evidence | Court filing service / 12368 |
A comparison of starting points, not a decision about your case. Check current rules, acceptance, costs and enforcement with the relevant institution. Mediation ↗ · Arbitration ↗ · Consumer complaints ↗
Foreign parties or overseas documents
- Identify the correct legal entity and confirm authority to act.
- Check service of documents, translations and document-specific formalities.
- Consider where an agreement, judgment or award could be enforced.
Do not assume a foreign document or judgment can be used in mainland proceedings without additional steps.
Read the 2026 foreign-related filing guide ↗Consumer disputes: what the complaint route can do
It can
- Receive a complaint within the authority’s remit.
- Support administrative mediation, subject to the rules.
- Handle regulatory reports under a separate procedure.
It does not automatically
- Award private compensation.
- Replace a court judgment or arbitral award.
- Decide every contract dispute.
Current complaint rules (effective 15 Apr 2026) ↗ · 12315 ↗ · 12345: government-service enquiries / complaints ↗
Deadlines need individual review
Record dates for a professional consultation—not a deadline calculation. An enquiry or waiting for a reply does not automatically protect a time limit. Some qualifying acts can interrupt civil limitation; the exact facts and proof need review.
Keep the document and delivery record; the legal service date needs verification.
Questions worth asking
Is every purchase refundable within seven days?
No. The sales channel, product, condition and statutory exceptions matter. Ask which rule applies before relying on a refund entitlement.
Official reference ↗Does a police report settle a private money claim?
A police report and a civil claim serve different purposes. Suspected crime can affect which procedure is appropriate; obtain case-specific advice.
Official reference ↗Is mediation the same as a court judgment?
No. The type of agreement, any judicial confirmation and enforcement requirements must be checked. Participation in people’s mediation is voluntary.
Official reference ↗What if the contract names arbitration?
Have the agreement’s scope, validity and procedural effects reviewed. This page does not decide which institution can hear your case.
Official reference ↗Can I use foreign-language documents directly?
Check translation, identity, authority, service and document-specific formalities with the receiving institution. Do not assume every document needs identical authentication.
Official reference ↗Does making an enquiry stop a time limit?
Not automatically. Some qualifying demands, proceedings or requests to legally empowered bodies can interrupt civil limitation. The facts, route and proof matter; obtain prompt review.
Official reference ↗Official starting points in Shenzhen
12348 ↗
Public legal-service information; check eligibility and language.
Legal Aid in China ↗
Eligibility and case scope must be checked.
Shenzhen court services ↗
Filing guidance and current arrangements.
12315 ↗
Consumer complaint and regulatory-report routes.
People’s mediation ↗
Ask the Justice Bureau about suitable local committees.
Other law guides
Official sources, review notes and image credits
Dashboard references checked 18 October 2026. Use the official Chinese text and the receiving institution’s current requirements. The original detailed guide below retains its own review date. Sources support general preparation only, not a decision on any individual case.
- Civil Code of the People's Republic of China ↗ — National People's Congress; official full-text republication by SAMR · Effective: 2021-01-01
- Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests ↗ — National People's Congress; official full-text republication by SAMR · Effective: 2014-03-15
- Measures for Handling Market-Regulation Complaints and Reports — SAMR Order No. 121 ↗ — State Administration for Market Regulation · Effective: 2026-04-15
- SPC provisions on application of civil limitation rules, amended in 2020 ↗ — Supreme People's Court / China International Commercial Court · Effective: 2021-01-01 · The CICC page can redirect in a direct open. Its current official search-index text was available and includes the 2020 amendment and articles cited.
- SPC Provisions on Evidence in Civil Proceedings, 2019 revision ↗ — Supreme People's Court Intellectual Property Court · Effective: 2020-05-01
- Arbitration Law, 2025 revision ↗ — National People's Congress; official republication in MOFCOM's regulation database · Effective: 2026-03-01
- People's Mediation Law ↗ — National People's Congress; Shenzhen Justice Bureau republication · Effective: 2011-01-01
- Commercial Mediation Regulations — State Council Order No. 827 ↗ — State Council; Ministry of Justice official administrative-regulation database · Effective: 2026-05-01
- Shenzhen court filing guide for foreign-related and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan civil/commercial cases, 2026 edition ↗ — Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court · The HTML exposes the 2026 title, publication date and service numbers. The linked detailed attachment failed to open during the 18 October source recheck, so its document requirements were not independently verified. The dashboard does not turn this entry into an exhaustive foreign-document checklist.
- Shenzhen police guidance on emergency numbers in public places ↗ — Shenzhen Public Security Bureau
- Addresses and contact numbers of Shenzhen legal-aid institutions ↗ — Shenzhen Justice Bureau
- Shenzhen court litigation-service hotline notice ↗ — Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court
- Shenzhen government-service complaint rules, renewed in 2026 ↗ — Shenzhen Government Service and Data Management Bureau · Effective: 2026-02-01
- Directory of current valid laws as at 28 August 2026 ↗ — State Administration for Market Regulation, republication of the official law directory
The hero and three route-card images are existing generated editorial illustrations; the courthouse is generic, not a verified court photograph, and the pictured paperwork is not a legal form. Read-next thumbnails are existing site illustrations, not evidence or service endorsements.
Original detailed civil-law guide and its dated sources
Common situations
A contract or service has not been delivered
Identify the contracting person or company and compare the promised scope, payment and completion terms with what happened. The Civil Code addresses performance and remedies, but the appropriate remedy depends on the facts.
- Keep the agreement, amendments, payments and complete email or chat records.
- Make a dated account and a clear written request explaining the problem and the remedy sought.
- Check mediation, any relevant arbitration clause and the appropriate court before starting proceedings.
A faulty product or disputed consumer service
Keep the order, trader identity, advertised terms and evidence of the problem. Shenzhen has local consumer-protection rules in addition to national law; refund and repair rights depend on the transaction and applicable exceptions.
- Ask the trader or platform to resolve the issue and keep the response.
- Use Shenzhen market regulation’s official complaint hub to check the appropriate consumer channel.
- An administrative complaint does not itself award compensation or replace a court judgment.
Money owed, damage or a compensation claim
Separate the amount claimed from the evidence supporting responsibility and loss. Keep an itemised calculation and records linking the loss to the event. Get advice about the correct claim, parties, forum and time limits.
Mediation, complaint and court are different routes
People’s mediation is voluntary; committee mediation is free under the People’s Mediation Law. A settlement’s legal effect and enforcement steps need separate attention. A complaint, a mediation agreement and a court judgment are different documents.
Foreign parties or overseas documents
Before filing, consult Shenzhen courts’ 2026 foreign-related civil-commercial guide. Ask about party identification, authority to act, service of documents, Chinese translations and any authentication or treaty requirements. Do not assume a foreign document or judgment can be used without further steps.
Questions worth asking
Is every purchase refundable within seven days?
No universal rule applies to every purchase or service. The product, sales channel, condition, contract and statutory exceptions matter. Check the applicable rule and facts before asserting a refund entitlement.
Does a police report settle a private money claim?
A report and a civil claim have different functions. If facts may involve a suspected crime, a lawyer should assess how the procedures interact; do not assume that reporting automatically resolves, replaces or pauses a civil case.
Official sources & reading notes
Use the official Chinese text to check legal wording. Translations and this guide are reading aids; check the version, effective date and local procedure before acting.
- PRC Civil Code · official English publication State Council English website, sourced from the National People's Congress
- People’s Mediation Law National People's Congress; reproduced by Shenzhen Justice Bureau
- Shenzhen court services & filing Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court
- Shenzhen consumer-protection regulation Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress; reproduced by Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation
- Shenzhen consumer complaints · official routes Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation
- Guangdong public legal services Guangdong Department of Justice
- 2026 foreign-related civil filing guide · Chinese Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court
- Civil Procedure Law · 2023 amended text National People's Congress
- PRC Criminal Procedure Law State Administration for Market Regulation, official full-text republication
- Shenzhen legal-aid information · 12348 Shenzhen Justice Bureau
Explore the other law guides
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Open guide →Criminal Law
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Open guide →Immigration Law
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Open guide →Business Law
Company setup, capital, permits and contracts.
Open guide →An independent LifeShenzhen guide, built from the official sources above. About the guide
Report a source or factual correctionGeneral information only. Personal cases need qualified legal advice. These tools do not file a case, appoint a lawyer, verify evidence or calculate a legal deadline.