A thorough inquiry into complaints against e-commerce sites that charge extra for choosing to pay using cash-on-delivery (COD) has been initiated by the Department of Consumer Affairs. In a recent tweet, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi referred to these tactics as “dark patterns” that deceive and take advantage of customers, and he pledged tough measures against those who engage in them in order to safeguard consumer rights and advance openness in India’s rapidly expanding e-commerce industry.
How E-Commerce Sties Came in Government’s Radar?
The problem was discovered when multiple customers complained that they were assessed additional costs when they chose the COD option rather than prepaid payment methods. A well-known e-commerce company charged him INR 226 under unclear headings like “offer handling fee”, “payment handling fee”, and “protect promise fee”, according to one X user.
By drawing comparisons to other costs, such as the “Rain Fee” seen on food delivery services like Zomato, Swiggy, and Zepto, the user mockingly lambasted these prices. Joshi addressed these worries in a tweet on 3 October, stating that businesses violating consumer rights will face severe consequences and that these activities will be closely examined.
What is Dark Patterns E-Commerce’s Preferred Option?
Dark patterns are deceptive design strategies used by businesses to obtain information or funds from customers without their full knowledge. These include deceptive signals like phoney countdown timers for offers, complicated, difficult-to-notice costs hidden deep within checkout processes, or exhibiting false scarcity (“only one or two items left”).
One of the best examples of these unethical tactics is charging more for payment options like COD under ambiguous fee titles. The government is currently working on new regulations to combat these misleading practices and has already urged e-commerce corporations to stop them. The Jagriti app, which makes it easier to file complaints about unfair commercial practices, encourages customers to report these infractions.
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•Govt launches probe into e-commerce platforms over •Consumer complaints reveal hidden charges under •Union Minister Pralhad Joshi calls such practices •Dark patterns include deceptive design tricks to •New regulations are being considered to curb such •Consumers are encouraged to report violations |

