Strict Stance Against Consumer Abuse: Pralhad Joshi
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New Delhi, Dec 28 (NationPress) There will be strict action against consumer exploitation, stated Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi regarding the issue of price disparities between iPhone and Android users on ride-hailing services.
Joshi made this comment in reaction to a media article that suggested ride-hailing apps’ algorithms were designed to charge Apple users more than those utilizing Android devices.
“This, at first glance, appears to be an unfair trade practice where cab aggregators are reportedly implementing Differential Pricing based on the factors highlighted in the article. If true, this shows a blatant violation of the consumer’s right to be informed,” Joshi expressed in a message on the social media platform X.
Stressing a zero tolerance policy for consumer exploitation, he instructed the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to investigate instances of pricing inconsistencies. In addition to ride-hailing apps, the Union Minister also mandated inquiries into similar practices among food delivery services and online ticket reservation platforms.
“I have requested @jagograhakjago through CCPA to carry out a thorough investigation into this matter and present a report promptly. I have also asked the department to examine other sectors such as food delivery services, online ticket booking platforms, etc.,” Joshi mentioned.
This investigation follows media reports that have brought to light price variations between mobile platforms for identical journeys.
Previously, Niraali Parekh, the Founder and Creative Director of Bokap Designs, also pointed out the fare discrepancies between Android and iPhone users when booking an Uber ride.
In a post on LinkedIn, he described how a colleague booked an Uber ride using both Android and iPhone devices simultaneously for the same pick-up and drop-off locations and observed substantial differences in costs.
“On Android, the fare was Rs 290.79 while on iPhone, it surged to Rs 342.47,” he reported.
While some individuals labeled the pricing approach as an unavoidable outcome of a data-driven business model, others noted that this model is also applicable on MakeMyTrip when booking hotels.
