Hyderabad: Ola Cabs fined for charging full fare on unfinished ride

HYDERABAD: A cab aggregator has been ordered to pay compensation as well as refund for charging a customer the full fare despite the ride being cut short.
The Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-III found Ola Cabs guilty of deficiency in service and unfair trade practices, and ruled that it must refund the admitted excess amount of 912 along with 12% interest from the date of travel.Additionally, Ola Cabs was directed to pay 2,000 as compensation and 1,000 as costs to complainant Ajay Velpula in 45 days.
In his complaint, Velupula, a resident of Bholakpur, said that on January 19, 2021, he had booked a ride from Bhoiguda in Secunderabad to Chillapally village in Manthany mandal, Peddapally District. Due to personal issues he had to get down at Garrepalle after travelling 173 km out of the total 215 km journey. Velupula said that despite the shorter distance he was charged 5,848, equivalent to a ride of 273 km.
Velpula said he enquired with the driver as well as Ola Cabs' customer care, but the response was not to his satisfaction. He was promised a refund of 912, which he found unsatisfactory given the excess amount charged. Consequently, he filed a complaint with the consumer commission seeking a refund of the overcharged amount, compensation and costs.
The commission acknowledged that Ola Cabs admitted to initiating the refund of 912 but found their response inadequate and labelled it as both deficiency in service and unfair trade practice while penalising it.
Hyderabad: A cab aggregator has been ordered to pay compensation as well as refund for charging a customer the full fare despite the ride being cut short.
The Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-III found Ola Cabs guilty of deficiency in service and unfair trade practices, and ruled that it must refund the admitted excess amount of 912 along with 12% interest from the date of travel. Additionally, Ola Cabs was directed to pay 2,000 as compensation and 1,000 as costs to complainant Ajay Velpula in 45 days.
In his complaint, Velupula, a resident of Bholakpur, said that on January 19, 2021, he had booked a ride from Bhoiguda in Secunderabad to Chillapally village in Manthany mandal, Peddapally District. Due to personal issues he had to get down at Garrepalle after travelling 173 km out of the total 215 km journey. Velupula said that despite the shorter distance he was charged 5,848, equivalent to a ride of 273 km.
Velpula said he enquired with the driver as well as Ola Cabs' customer care, but the response was not to his satisfaction. He was promised a refund of 912, which he found unsatisfactory given the excess amount charged. Consequently, he filed a complaint with the consumer commission seeking a refund of the overcharged amount, compensation and costs.
The commission acknowledged that Ola Cabs admitted to initiating the refund of 912 but found their response inadequate and labelled it as both deficiency in service and unfair trade practice while penalising it.