As the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) begins looking into Ola and Rapido for allegedly pushing riders to tip before confirming bookings, voices in Bengaluru are urging officials to widen the net. Many riders claim that Namma Yatri, a homegrown favorite in the city, was the first to introduce this tactic — and is still using it aggressively, especially during peak hours.
The controversy centers around a feature that encourages, and in some cases pressures, users to add a tip before the ride even begins. What was once a voluntary thank-you at the end of a trip is now being seen by many as a way to game the system — tipping upfront to simply get a ride.
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On May 21, Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi asked the CCPA to formally question Uber about the same practice. A day later, he confirmed that Ola and Rapido were next. In his words, “Tips were never meant to become part of the booking process. When platforms start using them to influence ride allocation, that crosses the line.”
Many app users say they’ve been nudged — sometimes subtly, sometimes not — into adding a tip just to avoid delays or cancellations. Some even say drivers now expect it, making the base fare feel meaningless. The frustration is particularly high in Bengaluru, where wait times and no-shows have become routine.
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While platforms have defended the feature as optional, users insist the experience feels anything but. With complaints piling up, there’s growing public demand for stricter scrutiny across all platforms — not just the big players.
