Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
India fines Ola ₹10 lakh and orders it to stop advance tipping prompts
India’s Central Consumer Protection Authority fined Ola ₹10 lakh for asking passengers to pay extra before their rides were confirmed.
The regulator said the app suggested that paying a tip or add-on could help users get a ride faster.
Ola must stop all pre-ride payment prompts, whether they are called tips, add-ons or extra fares.
Ola said the payments were voluntary and did not affect how rides were assigned, but the regulator found its booking data did not support that claim.
Between June 1 and 15, 2026, drivers accepted fewer requests with add-ons than requests without them in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai.
The authority said the prompts could pressure passengers and amounted to an unfair practice and a prohibited dark pattern.
The order requires Ola to submit a compliance report within 15 days; the regulator has also begun action involving other cab companies.
India’s Central Consumer Protection Authority fined Ola operator ANI Technologies ₹10 lakh over prompts asking customers to pay extra before rides were confirmed.
The authority said the prompts misleadingly suggested that advance payments could improve the chances of getting a ride faster.
It ordered Ola to immediately stop all pre-ride payment prompts, whether described as tips, add-ons or additional fares.
Ola’s data showed lower driver acceptance rates for requests with add-ons than for those without them in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai.
Ola said the payments were voluntary and did not affect ride allocation.
- Who
- The Central Consumer Protection Authority fined ANI Technologies, which operates Ola.
- What
- Ola was fined ₹10 lakh and ordered to stop prompting customers to pay extra before rides were confirmed.
- When
- The order was dated November 10, 2026. The authority’s action was reported on November 12 and 13.
- Where
- The order concerns Ola’s ride-hailing service in India.
- Why
- The authority said the prompts misleadingly suggested that paying extra could improve the chances of getting a ride faster and amounted to an unfair trade practice and dark pattern.
Ola
Central Consumer Protection Authority
Effect of payment
Ola
Ola said tipping did not affect ride allocation or guarantee faster confirmation.
Central Consumer Protection Authority
The authority said Ola’s prompts suggested that an extra payment could improve the chance of getting a ride faster.
Purpose of feature
Ola
Ola said payments were voluntary, went to drivers and could encourage them to accept less attractive rides.
Central Consumer Protection Authority
The authority said soliciting payment before a driver accepted a booking undermined the voluntary nature of tipping.
The CCPA received a complaint alleging that Ola’s app prompted customers to pay tips in advance.
Ola changed the feature’s name from tip to add-on, while continuing to show prompts suggesting extra payments could help users get a ride faster.
Ola data showed lower driver acceptance rates for ride requests with add-ons than for requests without them in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai.
The CCPA issued its order fining ANI Technologies ₹10 lakh and directing Ola to stop the practice.
- Penalty
- ₹10 lakh
- Order date
- November 10, 2026
- Maximum custom payment
- ₹499
- Delhi acceptance rates
- 38% with an add-on; 62% without one
- Bengaluru acceptance rates
- 40% with an add-on; 68% without one
- Mumbai acceptance rates
- 39% with an add-on; 68% without one
4 sources
What people are saying
Adding a tip might help increase the chances of getting a ride faster
A dark pattern does not cease to be one because it does not succeed with every consumer and a feature used by over one lakh ride requests in a single city cannot be described as insignificant.
Posts on X
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Ola for misleading pre-ride payment prompts and directed the discontinuation of the feature. A firm step against dark patterns, unfair practices and misleading claims, reaffirming the commitment