The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued notices to cab aggregators Ola and Uber following consumer complaints about software performance and pricing disparities, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said.

“As a follow-up to the earlier observation of apparent #DifferentialPricing based on the different models of mobiles (#iPhones/ #Android) being used, Department of Consumer Affairs through the CCPA, has issued notices to major cab aggregators #Ola and #Uber, seeking their responses,” he posted on the social media platform X.

This development comes in the wake of several commuters complaining of disparity in cab fares displayed simultaneously on Android devices and iPhones for identical rides.

Joshi called this behaviour an “unfair trade practice” and a violation of consumers’ right to transparency. He said the government has a “zero tolerance” towards consumer exploitation and has directed the CCPA to investigate the matter thoroughly.

However, Uber has denied the allegations and said that they do not fix fares based on customer’s phone model and it is co-operating with the CCPA on this matter.