Complaint vs. FIR — What's the Difference?

A formal accusation made against someone.

A written document detailing the preliminary information about a crime.

An expression of dissatisfaction or grievance.

A formal record made by the police after receiving information about a criminal offense.

A physical ailment or malady.

The initial step in a police investigation in countries like India.

A legal term denoting the initial document filed in a lawsuit.

A crucial legal document in the criminal justice process.

In legal terminology, a complaint is any formal legal document that sets out the facts and legal reasons (see: cause of action) that the filing party or parties (the plaintiff(s)) believes are sufficient to support a claim against the party or parties against whom the claim is brought (the defendant(s)) that entitles the plaintiff(s) to a remedy (either money damages or injunctive relief). For example, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) that govern civil litigation in United States courts provide that a civil action is commenced with the filing or service of a pleading called a complaint.

Firs (Abies) are a genus of 48–56 species of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range.

An expression of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.

An evergreen coniferous tree with upright cones and flat needle-shaped leaves, typically arranged in two rows. Firs are an important source of timber and resins.

A cause or reason for complaining; a grievance

Any of various evergreen trees of the genus Abies, having linear flattened needles and erect cones with deciduous scales.

A bodily disorder or disease; a malady or ailment.

Any of several similar or related trees, such as the Douglas fir.

The symptom or distress about which a patient seeks medical assistance.

The wood of any these trees.

A formal statement initiating a lawsuit by specifying the facts and legal grounds for the relief sought.

A conifer of the genus Abies.

A formal charge, made under oath, of the commission of a crime or other such offense.

Any pinaceous conifer of related genera, especially a Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga) or a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris).

The act of complaining.

(uncountable) Wood of such trees.

A grievance, problem, difficulty, or concern.

A genus (Abies) of coniferous trees, often of large size and elegant shape, some of them valued for their timber and others for their resin. The species are distinguished as the balsam fir, the silver fir, the red fir, etc. The Scotch fir is a Pinus.

(legal) In a civil action, the first pleading of the plaintiff setting out the facts on which the claim is based;
The purpose is to give notice to the adversary of the nature and basis of the claim asserted.

Nonresinous wood of a fir tree

(legal) In criminal law, the preliminary charge or accusation made by one person against another to the appropriate court or officer, usually a magistrate.
However, court proceedings, such as a trial, cannot be instituted until an indictment or information has been handed down against the defendant.

Any of various evergreen trees of the genus Abies; chiefly of upland areas

A bodily disorder or disease; the symptom of such a disorder.

Stands for First Information Report.

Expression of grief, regret, pain, censure, or resentment; lamentation; murmuring; accusation; fault-finding.

Cause or subject of complaint or murmuring.

An ailment or disease of the body.

A formal allegation or charge against a party made or presented to the appropriate court or officer, as for a wrong done or a crime committed (in the latter case, generally under oath); an information; accusation; the initial bill in proceedings in equity.

An often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining

(formerly) a loud cry (or repeated cries) of pain or rage or sorrow

An expression of grievance or resentment

(civil law) the first pleading of the plaintiff setting out the facts on which the claim for relief is based

(criminal law) a pleading describing some wrong or offense;

A statement that something is unsatisfactory.

FIR stands for First Information Report.

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction, grievance, or formal accusation.

An FIR can be lodged by the victim, someone on their behalf, or a witness to a crime.

Yes, an FIR is a public document, and anyone can obtain a copy of it.

Yes, complaints can be both verbal or written, depending on the context.

The term "FIR" is primarily used in countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

FIRs are generally filed for cognizable offenses, which are more serious in nature.

No, only certain types of complaints, like legal petitions or formal accusations, have legal implications.

Companies usually address customer complaints through customer service departments or grievance redressal mechanisms.

Yes, anyone who has a grievance or dissatisfaction can file a complaint.

Yes, once an FIR is registered, it mandates a police investigation.

An FIR is a foundational document that officially starts a police investigation into a crime.

While a complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction, feedback can be positive, negative, or neutral.

Depending on the nature of the complaint and its severity, it might lead to legal action.

Depending on the context, some complaints can be retracted, but legal or official complaints may have consequences if withdrawn.