New Delhi, Jan 23: Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi on Thursday informed that the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued notices to major cab aggregators Ola and Uber over allegations of differential pricing based on the type of smartphone used by consumers.
The Minister shared the update on social media, stating, "Following earlier concerns regarding differential pricing depending on whether consumers use iPhones or Android phones, the Department of Consumer Affairs, through the CCPA, has sent notices to Ola and Uber, asking for their responses."
The issue surfaced after multiple consumers reported discrepancies in fares for the same destination when checked on different smartphones. It was noted that higher fares appeared on some phone models, while others showed lower prices.
In response, the CCPA's intervention aims to address these consumer complaints and ensure fair pricing practices among the cab aggregators. The companies are now required to explain their pricing mechanisms and clarify the reasons behind these discrepancies.
This is not the first time the department has stepped in to address consumer issues with tech companies. Previously, the CCPA had issued a notice to Apple following complaints received through the National Consumer Helpline. Consumers reported performance issues with iPhones after updating to iOS 18 or newer versions. The Department reviewed these complaints and sought Apple's response to the concerns raised.
In his post, the Minister added, "After complaints were reported on the National Consumer Helpline about performance problems in iPhones after updating to iOS 18+ software, the Department examined the issue and issued a notice to Apple via the CCPA, asking for a response."
