The Consumer Affairs Ministry issued notices to both cab aggregators after several reports of Ola and Uber charging different fares for the same ride on the same route. Notably, the fares were being charged based on whether the user was an Android or iPhone user. iPhone users were being charged more than Android users even if the route was the same. The Consumer Affairs Ministry has asked them to explain the difference in fares.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) termed the issue as clearly differential pricing and sought detailed explanations from the companies about their pricing practices. It also urged the companies to address concerns about potential discrimination and ensure transparency and fairness in the way fares are calculated.

Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi intervened and directed the CCPA to investigate Uber, Ola, and Rapido for alleged “unfair trade practices” and “blatant disregard” for consumer rights, stressing the government’s “zero tolerance for consumer exploitation”.

He also directed the CCPA to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report immediately.

The controversy began with a series of posts on social media by a Delhi-based entrepreneur who compared fares on both devices in various conditions, including battery levels. These posts highlighted the difference in prices between the two platforms.

The matter first gained widespread attention in December, when an Uber user shared an image showing two different fares for the same Uber ride on an iPhone and an Android device.

In response, Uber denied any connection between phone type and fares and attributed the difference in prices to factors such as pick-up locations, ETA, and drop-off points. The company said it does not personalize pricing based on the mobile phone used.

However, despite Uber's denial, many social media users continue to report differences in fares between Android and iOS users for the same ride.