Consumer court fines Uber Rs.20,000 for overcharging on 8.83 Kms short ride
Uber India has been fined ₹20,000 by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission of Chandigarh for overcharging a customer on a short ride. Chandigarh resident Ashwani Prashar was charged ₹1,334 for an 8.83-km ride, amounting to an exorbitant rate of ₹150 per kilometer. Prashar filed a complaint after his attempts to resolve the issue with Uber went unanswered.
According to Uber India, the upfront fare shown to the rider was ₹359, but due to multiple route deviations, the final fare surged to ₹1,334. However, the Commission deemed this explanation unacceptable, labeling it as an unfair trade practice. The Commission ordered Uber India to pay ₹10,000 in compensation to Prashar and deposit another ₹10,000 in the legal aid account.
The Commission criticized Uber’s practice of charging excess fare compared to the contracted fare at the time of booking, terming it as deceptive. In response to the ruling, Uber India refunded ₹975 worth of Uber Credits to Prashar’s account as a goodwill gesture.
This incident underscores the frustration faced by consumers when dealing with unjustified charges from online service providers. The ruling serves as a warning to companies to uphold fair practices and provide transparent billing to customers.
