The government recently issued a warning against what practice on e-commerce platforms?

 The Indian government has warned online shoppers and e-commerce platforms against the deceptive practice of drip pricing—where hidden charges appear only at checkout. Learn what drip pricing is, why it’s unfair, how to report it, and how to stay safe while shopping online.

The government recently issued a warning against what practice on e-commerce platforms?

Quick summary: The Department of Consumer Affairs has warned online shoppers about drip pricing — a deceptive practice where the price shown at first looks low but hidden mandatory charges are revealed gradually (often at checkout), causing the final bill to be higher than advertised. The government classifies this and related tricks as dark patterns and has told consumers how to report such behaviour. (NDTV Profit)

---

1. What is drip pricing — explained simply

Imagine you see a pair of shoes listed for ₹1,000. You click “Buy,” celebrate the bargain, and then reach checkout — where suddenly the total jumps to ₹1,150 because of “platform fees,” “offer handling,” or “payment charges.” The product’s advertised price was real, but not the whole truth — extra mandatory fees were added in small steps. That’s drip pricing: revealing parts of the real cost only as the shopper moves through the buying process, so the initial price looks better than the final one. (NDTV Profit)

Drip pricing is one type of dark pattern — a broader set of design or pricing tricks used by websites and apps to steer users into decisions that are not in their best interest. Other dark patterns include fake scarcity (“only 2 left!”), hiding negative reviews, pre-checked opt-ins, subscription traps, and misleading countdown timers. (mint)

---

2. Why the government warned shoppers now

1. Festive sale seasons magnify the harm. During big shopping events (Diwali, end-of-season sales, festival promotions) consumers see more offers and are more likely to buy impulsively. Regulators said drip pricing and hidden fees tend to spike during these periods. (NDTV Profit)
2. Rising complaints and surveys. Consumer surveys and helplines reported many users seeing fees appear late in checkout, or seeing negative reviews hidden — both of which undermine trust and mislead buyers. The Department of Consumer Affairs issued the public warning to raise awareness and to encourage reporting. (LocalCircles)
3. Regulatory follow-up. The warning follows earlier advisories and guidelines on dark patterns and comes amid investigations and probes into platforms for alleged extra charges and other unfair practices. Regulators are moving from guidance to enforcement if platforms don’t fix problems. (IndiaLaw LLP)

---

3. Examples of drip pricing and how it looks in real life

• “Item ₹499 — total ₹599 at checkout.” The product page shows ₹499; mandatory “platform fee” appears later. (The Tech Outlook)
• Cash-on-delivery (CoD) surcharge: An extra fee for choosing CoD appears only when you select payment type. Regulators have flagged excess CoD charges as a type of dark pattern. (The Tribune)
• “Discounted” price plus mandatory “protection” or “handling” fees: Price appears discounted but the “discount” is offset by add-on fees hidden until checkout. (The Tech Outlook)
• Basket sneaking / “drip” delivery charges: Shipping or convenience fees that were not disclosed earlier get added just before final payment. (IndiaLaw LLP)

These are real examples reported in investigations and news coverage — they’re not hypothetical. (NDTV Profit)

---

4. Why drip pricing is unfair (simple reasons)

• It hides the real cost. Consumers can’t compare offers properly if initial prices don’t include mandatory charges.
• It exploits attention. Shoppers often stop paying attention until checkout or assume fees are optional. Small, repeated reveals (the “drip”) make the total feel less shocking.
• It creates bad competition. Sellers who hide fees can advertise lower prices and unfairly undercut honest competitors.
• It breaks trust. When buyers feel tricked, they lose confidence in platforms and may avoid them in future. (IndiaLaw LLP)

---

5. Legal and policy context — what regulators have already done

• Guidelines on dark patterns (2023–2025): India’s consumer protection authorities earlier defined and warned against dark patterns and issued guidelines advising platforms to stop deceptive UI/UX practices. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) and the Department of Consumer Affairs have published advisories and asked firms to self-audit. (Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF))
• Recent investigations and potential action: Following complaints about hidden fees, the government has opened probes and said platforms that use dark patterns could face enforcement action. Officials have explicitly stated that deceptive charges (e.g., certain CoD fees, non-transparent “handling” fees) will be scrutinised. (Forbes India)
• Helpline and complaint mechanisms: The Department of Consumer Affairs encouraged consumers to report drip pricing to the National Consumer Helpline (1915) or via the consumer helpline website. Regulators are using complaints to prioritize investigations. (Consumer Affairs)

---

6. How to spot drip pricing — a practical checklist

When shopping online, use this simple checklist to spot drip pricing or other dark patterns:

1. Does the “final price” appear on the product page? If not, be cautious. (Gizbot)
2. Watch for terms like “platform fee,” “offer handling fee,” “payment handling,” or “protection charge.” If these appear only at checkout, it’s a red flag. (The Tech Outlook)
3. Compare total cost across platforms and seller pages. If one platform shows a lower upfront price but a higher checkout total, that’s likely drip pricing. (Gizbot)
4. Check payment options early. Select different payment methods and see whether extra charges appear for certain methods (e.g., CoD). (The Tribune)
5. Look for hidden delivery or return fees. These sometimes show up later in the flow. (The Tech Outlook)
6. Read the fine print and seller terms before clicking “Place Order.” If fees are buried in terms, they may be intentionally obscured. (IndiaLaw LLP)

If you suspect drip pricing, take screenshots at each step (product page, cart, checkout) — these are useful if you report the issue.

---

7. What to do if you see drip pricing (step-by-step)

1. Don’t confirm the order. If the final price is higher than you were led to expect, cancel and rethink.
2. Take screenshots. Capture the product listing, cart page, and checkout total with timestamps if possible. (The Tech Outlook)
3. Contact the seller or platform first. Ask why the mandatory fees were not shown earlier; reputable sellers sometimes correct errors quickly.
4. File a complaint with the National Consumer Helpline (1915) or via the official consumer helpline website if the platform refuses to help. Provide order details and screenshots. (Consumer Affairs)
5. Use social media or public posts carefully. Tagging the platform and regulators can speed response, but stick to facts and screenshots — avoid accusations without proof. (The Tech Outlook)

---

8. What platforms say and how they respond

Many big e-commerce players claim they are working to be transparent. Platforms sometimes defend small fees as necessary for certain services (payment processing, fast delivery, protection). But regulators expect mandatory charges to be shown upfront, and platforms have been asked to self-audit and publicly declare they have removed dark patterns. Where platforms don’t cooperate, formal investigations and penalties are possible. (mint)

---

9. Broader examples of dark patterns (so you can recognize them)

• False urgency: “Only 1 left!” or timers designed to make you rush.
• Hidden negative reviews: Only showing positive reviews or suppressing negatives.
• Subscription traps: Making it easy to subscribe but hard to cancel.
• Pre-checked add-ons: Optional services checked by default and charged unless you uncheck.
• Sneak-into-basket: Items added to cart without explicit consent. (mint)

Regulators treat all of these as harmful design choices that harm consumer autonomy and transparency.

---

10. Why this matters to everyone — not just shoppers

• Small buyers: Hidden fees take money from households on tight budgets; the cumulative effect during big sale seasons is large. (NDTV Profit)
• Small sellers and honest marketplaces: They can lose business to sellers who hide fees to look cheaper. This hurts fair competition. (IndiaLaw LLP)
• Market trust: Persistent deceptive practices erode confidence in digital commerce, which harms the whole ecosystem. (IndiaLaw LLP)

---

11. What the government/regulators can do next

Regulators have a few tools:

• Investigations and fines: Probe platforms and impose penalties for breaches of consumer protection law. (Forbes India)
• Guidelines and mandatory disclosures: Require platforms to show final prices on product pages and to publish dark-pattern audits. (Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF))
• Public complaint portals and helplines: Use aggregated complaints from 1915 and consumer portals to prioritize enforcement. (Consumer Affairs)
• Transparency registers: Make platforms publish self-audit results so consumers and watchdogs can see who is compliant. (Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF))

These measures aim to deter platforms from using deceptive interfaces and to restore fairness.

---

12. Good shopping habits — a short list to protect yourself

1. Always check the final total before placing an order. (Gizbot)
2. Compare final prices (not just listed prices) across stores. (Gizbot)
3. Be wary of excessive “handling” or “platform” fees. (The Tech Outlook)
4. Use trusted payment methods and check if they attract extra fees. (The Tribune)
5. Keep screenshots and order IDs — they help when filing complaints. (The Tech Outlook)

---

13. FAQs — quick answers to common questions

Q: Is every extra charge illegal?
A: No. Some extra charges (like optional premium delivery) are legal if they are clearly disclosed upfront and not mandatory. The problem is when mandatory costs are hidden until checkout. (Gizbot)

Q: Which government number should I call to report drip pricing?
A: The National Consumer Helpline — 1915 — or use the official consumer helpline website. Keep your screenshots and order details. (Consumer Affairs)

Q: Will platforms be punished?
A: Regulators have opened probes and warned of action; if investigations find violations of consumer protection rules, penalties or other enforcement actions can follow. (Forbes India)

Q: Are dark patterns only about price?
A: No. Dark patterns include a variety of deceptive designs around pricing, reviews, subscriptions, consent, and urgency. Drip pricing is one common example. (mint)

---

14. Short case study — how a simple check stops a drip trap

Rita spots a phone listed at ₹9,999 on Platform A and ₹10,199 on Platform B. She goes to checkout on Platform A and sees an extra ₹250 “platform fee” and ₹50 “payment handling” added — final price ₹10,299. On Platform B the product shows the ₹10,199 total upfront. Rita cancels on Platform A and buys from Platform B. Her quick check saved ₹100. This is why comparing final totals matters. (The Tech Outlook)

---

15. A small word to e-commerce platforms (policy note)

Regulators are clear: user interfaces should not be designed to mislead. Platforms should display all mandatory charges early in the shopping flow, make opt-ins explicit, publish self-audit results, and cooperate with consumer authorities. Transparent pricing is not only fair — it builds long-term customer trust and sustainable business. (Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF))

---

16. Final takeaway — how consumers can help fix this

• Be vigilant. Use the checklists above. (Gizbot)
• Document and report. If you see drip pricing, take screenshots and report using 1915 or consumerhelpline.gov.in. Authorities use complaints to act. (Consumer Affairs)
• Share knowledge. Tell friends and family how to spot hidden charges — awareness reduces the power of dark patterns. (IndiaLaw LLP)

When shoppers, platforms and regulators all play their parts, the online marketplace becomes fairer for everyone.

---

Sources and further reading (selected)

• Department of Consumer Affairs X post and coverage explaining drip pricing and reporting steps. (X (formerly Twitter))
• NDTV / DNA / Gizbot explainers on drip pricing and how to report to 1915. (NDTV Profit)
• LiveMint and Economic Times coverage of “dark patterns” and government scrutiny of e-commerce practices. (mint)
• Reports on probes into CoD fees, delayed refunds and related practices (Forbes India, The Tribune). (Forbes India)
• Central Consumer Protection Authority and commentary on dark pattern guidelines and self-audits. (Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF))