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Ola Fined Rs 10 Lakh for Deceptive Ride-Booking Tactics
13 Nov
Summary
- Ola was fined Rs 10 lakh for misleading consumers with add-on payments.
- The regulator cited unfair trade practices and dark patterns.
- Ola's data contradicted claims that add-ons sped up ride allocation.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on ANI Technologies, the operator of Ola, for its deceptive payment practices. The regulator found that Ola's 'add-on' or 'tip' feature, which suggested faster ride allocation for extra payment, constituted an unfair trade practice and a dark pattern. This practice has been ordered to cease immediately.
Evidence reviewed by the CCPA showed that Ola's own data from June 1-15, 2026, indicated lower acceptance rates for rides with add-ons compared to those without. The company's app messages, such as 'Adding a tip might help increase the chances of getting a ride faster,' were found to mislead consumers. The CCPA deemed this practice a concealment of material information, as consumers were not informed about the lower acceptance rates or the basis for suggested amounts.
The CCPA further noted that Ola's practice contravened the Motor Vehicles Aggregators Guidelines, 2025, which permit tipping only after the journey. The prompts, particularly those appearing at locations like hospitals and transport hubs, could disproportionately affect vulnerable consumers. This action follows a similar Rs 10 lakh penalty against Rapido for comparable practices, with investigations ongoing for Uber and Namma Yatri.
