Google Pay Allegedly Introduces Convenience Fees for Mobile Recharge Transactions

Google Pay has purportedly initiated the imposition of a convenience fee on users when purchasing mobile recharge plans through the app’s unified payments interface (UPI) service. While there has been no official announcement, a user reported on an online forum that Google Pay is now charging a Rs. 3 convenience fee for a Jio prepaid recharge plan priced at Rs. 749. This move aligns Google Pay with rival payment platforms Paytm and PhonePe, both of which charge users for prepaid recharge transactions. The convenience fees vary based on the cost of the recharge plan, with the highest fee set at Rs. 3 for transactions exceeding Rs. 300.

Tipster Mukul Sharma shared additional details, noting that recharge plans below Rs. 100 won’t incur a convenience fee, while those up to Rs. 200 and Rs. 300 will be charged Rs. 2 and Rs. 3, respectively. Transactions exceeding Rs. 300 will attract a Rs. 3 convenience fee. Google recently updated its Terms of Service, indicating that fees may be applied to certain transactions, including mobile recharges. The terms state that users will be notified of applicable fees before completing a transaction.

It’s noteworthy that other payment service providers, such as Paytm and PhonePe, have previously introduced similar convenience fees for transactions, following the trend of monetizing their payment platforms. While Google Pay users can still purchase recharge plans without additional fees through the operator’s website, the convenience fees underscore a broader industry shift in the online payments landscape.

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