Centre probing e-commerce sites over new add-on charges

The government is probing fees and various categories of additional charges levied by e-commerce platforms, especially for customers availing the “cash on delivery” option, Union consumer affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said on Friday in a social-media post.

Charging extra fees for cash on delivery is a practice “classified as a dark pattern that misleads and exploits consumers”, the minister said. The move to scrutinise delivery and other fees by online platforms comes during the annual festive season when shoppers throng markets and online sales peak.