Uber and Rapido's "develop tipping" feature, in which customers are induced to tip drivers before a trip begins, has come under heavy criticism from the critical customer protection authority (CCPA) and clients.

Remaining week, the CCPA issued a word to uber, elevating issues about the characteristic, which encourages customers to "upload a tip for faster pickup." The advance-tipping function is unethical and, in a way, promotes bidding for cabs.

Uber suggests that drivers can be more likely to simply accept a journey if a tip is included upfront.

Rapido and ola Cabs have also followed similar models, nudging customers to pay extra to enhance their possibilities of securing a trip quickly.

Union minister for Patron Affairs pralhad joshi showed that the CCPA became an investigating trip-hailing apps, inclusive of ola and Rapido. uber changed to already being below the CCPA scanner.

"Forcing or nudging customers to pay a tip earlier for quicker carrier is unethical and exploitative. Such actions fall under unfair exchange practices. A tip is supposed to be a token of appreciation, no longer a precondition for the provider," Joshi said.

HOW DID the development-TIPPING device begin?

Curiously, this debatable device originated with the karnataka government-sponsored app Namma Yatri in 2022.

Rapido adopted it in 2023, and uber rolled it out in april 2025, after announcing the functiondue for the remaining 12 months.

Rapido has defended the characteristic, pronouncing it optional and handiest when no driving force accepts a ride within 30 seconds.

Namma Yatri, interestingly, has tweaked its language from "add a tip" to "upload more (voluntary)." It is supposed to show that develop-tipping is a customer preference and voluntary.

But, within the ecosystem where cabs are supposed to be booked in real time, improved tipping doesn't remain voluntary. There's usually a fear playing out—if I don't, others will.

WHAT ARE darkish styles ON E-systems?

Developing tipping can also be a case of darkish patterns and drip pricing—deceptive layout techniques more and more criticized in virtual offerings.

A darkish sample is a manipulative interface layout that hints or pressures customers into making selections they won't otherwise make, normally reaping benefits for the platform at the person's expense. In this example, by way of subtly nudging users to agree that including a tip will improve their chances of having a ride quickly, the apps exploit behavioral psychology to drive higher payments.

The indian government has asked e-trade platforms to conduct internal checks for darkish patterns on their platforms.

Client Affairs minister pralhad joshi stated, "Groups should not watch for CCPA to intervene. They need to proactively recognize and do away with these deceptive practices before notices are issued. This is not regulatory compliance; it is about building trust along with your clients," consistent with a press release with the aid of the Ministry of customer Affairs.

Drip pricing, however, involves displaying a low preliminary price while step by step revealing additional charges, like recommendations, at some point of the transaction. What looks like a truthful fare can all at once inflate, with customers feeling cornered into paying more just to ensure fundamental carrier.

An instance of that could be base fares marketed through airways. Whilst reserving air tickets, passengers pay for a number of fees, consisting of seats, which makes the final fare a lot better than the only one displayed.

The Advertising Standards Council of india (ASCI) also discovered that fifty-two of the top 53 apps have deceptive UI (consumer interface)/UX (consumer revel in) practices that misinform users into choosing something they at the start did not intend to do.

Fitness tech topped the listing of sectors with the most misleading styles, followed by means of booking structures and e-commerce, consistent with the examination. In assessment, gaming and streaming services had the fewest such patterns.

The study discovered that those intricate apps had been downloaded 21 billion times and flagged the effect on client behaviour due to such practices.

The deceptive styles discovered consist of privateness deception, interface interference, drip pricing, and false urgency, a respectable statement issued through the advertising enterprise's self-regulatory frame said.

What are uber, ola, and Rapido customers pronouncing?

Public sentiment has been overwhelmingly negative on enhanced tipping at most trip-hailing services, which includes the marketplace-dominating ola Cabs, uber, and Rapido. social media platforms are flooded with complaints:

"This entire 'strengthen tip' scam commenced with Bengaluru automobiles and was pushed through Namma Yatri. Now it's unfolding like a virulent disease—Uber and Rapido have picked it up, too. Inquiring for more money before the journey within the call of 'higher service' is nothing but daylight hours robbery," wrote one person on X (formerly Twitter).

"some motion desires to be taken against Rapido and Uber. They're inquiring for a tip earlier than the experience is even booked. Reserving rides was tons less complicated before this option," wrote another.

Some other person referred to the exercise as a scam: "Uber india and rapidobikeapp have created this unfair machine. drivers won't accept rides unless you add a tip—once in a while even be ready until the end reaches 60% or 80% of the fare (sic)."

One remark pointed to the deeper issue: "In case you permit unethical pricing like surge costs, the subsequent step is sure to be enhanced tipping. Thanks, pralhadjoshiofc, for calling out uber India's exploitative practice. This form of Loot economics need to be prevented (sic)."

A few have additionally raised questions on whether or not the top in reality advantages the drivers.

"This became Rapidobikeapp urging me to tip simply seconds after reserving an experience. The wait wasn't even a minute. Do tips cross entirely to the drivers, or does the agency take a proportion other than its aggregator price"?

Others highlighted broader problems. "Uber's upfront pricing is hurting drivers. It does not compensate them for pickup mileage, time, or wear and tear. The machine isn't always sustainable—and now this new tipping model makes it worse."

The state of affairs is ironic due to the fact customers took to the ride-hailing apps to get rid of haggling but are actually being compelled to do the same with drivers online. That is why ola Cabs, uber, and Rapido aren't simply underneath the authorities' scanner over advanced tipping; they may be dealing with public backlash too.