Rapido Penalised ₹10 Lakh Over ‘Pay More, Get a Ride’ Prompts, Dark Patterns

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Roppen Transportation Services, the operator of Rapido, over the way additional fare payments were presented to riders, as per news reports. 

The action followed a review of advance tipping and dynamic pricing practices among cab and bike-taxi aggregators. 

Prompts After Booking 

The CCPA found that Rapido showed messages such as “Higher the price, higher the chance of getting a ride” during the ride-matching process. 

Another message read, “Captains aren't accepting at ₹60. Try adding +10, +20, +30”. The app first quoted a fare and then asked riders to increase the amount when the original offer was not accepted. 

CCPA Flags Dark Patterns 

The authority classified the practice as “Confirm Shaming”. It said the prompts could make riders feel they needed to pay more to avoid losing the ride. 

The reports suggest that the regulator also found “Interface Interference” in Rapido’s “Set your price” feature. Increasing the fare showed a “higher chance of getting a ride” message in green, while reducing it brought up a red or orange warning. 

The CCPA also noted that the slider gave riders more room to increase the fare than reduce it. 

Rapido’s Response Rejected 

Rapido noted that the extra payment was voluntary and that its matching algorithm continued to operate whether or not riders offered more money. 

The company also said the prompts reflected real-time negotiation between riders and drivers, similar to an offline discussion. 

The CCPA said Rapido had not provided data showing that a higher payment increased the likelihood of getting a ride. It therefore found the claim unsubstantiated and misleading. 

Pre-Ride Tip Also Questioned 

The regulator said the quoted fare already includes factors such as distance, time, traffic, tolls, and the amount payable to the driver. 

It also rejected the description of the additional pre-ride payment as a tip. The Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 require tipping options to be available only after a ride is completed. 

Other Platforms Under Review 

The Rapido order is part of a wider CCPA examination of ride-hailing platforms. Uber, Ola, Rapido, and Namma Yatri have previously received notices on compliance with the authority’s 2023 dark-pattern guidelines. 

The CCPA noted that its examination of Uber and Ola is continuing. Consumer complaints relating to misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices and dark patterns can be filed through the National Consumer Helpline at 1915. 

Read More: UPI Merchant Charges: Who Pays and Who Does Not from October 15, 2026! 

Conclusion  

The CCPA’s order covers Rapido’s fare prompts, pricing slider and pre-ride additional payment requests. The operator has been fined ₹10 lakh. 

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