Google Pay to collect convenience fees on mobile recharges. Read more. 

Google Pay now charges Rs 3 for mobile phone recharges made through its UPI service. This fee is applicable to users who purchase prepaid plans via the app, and is a departure from the app’s previous policy of not levying additional fees for such transactions. 

This change brings Google Pay in line with other payment platforms like Paytm and PhonePe, which have already been charging fees for similar transactions.

Google has yet to make an official statement regarding the inclusion of convenience fees on its payment app, despite the recent change. Reports indicate that users were made aware of the update after a customer shared a screenshot online, revealing a Rs. 3 convenience fee on a Rs. 749 prepaid recharge plan from Jio. It has been reported that the fee applies to both UPI and card transactions.

Google has recently made changes to its terms of service specifically for users in India, addressing the introduction of convenience fees. Nevertheless, it is still uncertain whether this particular addition was included in the November 10 update. According to the updated terms, users will receive prior notification regarding any fees that are applicable before finalizing a transaction. Additionally, the terms specify that the determination of fees is at the discretion of the company.

Surprisingly, even with the revised terms, we did not come across any extra fees when attempting to purchase Airtel and Jio recharge plans through Google Pay on Thursday. It appears that the sole method to evade these convenience charges might be to directly buy recharge plans from the operator’s website.

Google Pay’s policy adjustment aligns with the approach taken by other payment service providers, including Paytm and PhonePe, who have introduced transaction fees to monetize their platforms. Likewise, numerous online services have implemented similar charges for activities like food ordering or movie ticket bookings.