One of India’s largest payment apps, Google Pay, has reportedly begun charging users a convenience fee when they purchase a mobile recharge plan via the app’s unified payments interface (UPI) service. The move will see the search giant join rival payment platforms Paytm and PhonePe in charging users for prepaid recharge transactions made on the platform. Other transaction types, such as bill payments, money transfers, and merchant purchases, will remain accessible on Google Pay.
According to a report on MySmartPrice, a new “Fees” section was added to the Google Pay terms of service in India earlier this month. The update does not mention the new fees, but a screenshot shared by a user suggests that convenience charges are now being applied to Google Pay mobile recharges.
The user posted a screenshot of a Rs 749 Jio recharge on the Google Pay app, showing that it was charged an extra Rs 3 inconvenience charges. The user also noted that this charge applies to UPI and credit card transactions.
Users can view the charges in the Payments tab of the Google Pay app, where they’ll also find a history of all Google Pay transactions. Google hasn’t yet officially announced the new fees, but it’s expected to do so soon.
To use the Google Pay mobile application, users must first download and register on the platform. Once registered, they can link a bank account to make in-app purchases at select merchants and retailers such as Zomato and redBus. The app will allow users to recharge their prepaid plan or pay bills with just a few taps.
After tapping the reload option on the app, users can enter their contact number and select the name of the mobile operator they wish to recharge. The app will then show a list of available plans from which the user can choose. The list of options includes a Recommended tab that offers suggestions based on the user’s previous recharge history, a Data tab that offers plans with only data benefits, and a Roaming tab that offers roaming plans.
Users can also use the app to transfer funds to friends and family via the Money transfer feature. In addition, users can use the app to pay for goods and services on the Google Play store. The app has recently been updated with a feature that allows users to shop at participating online stores without leaving the Google Pay app.
When using the Google Pay app, users must understand that by agreeing to the terms of service, they authorize the company to access and use their credit card information. The company will use this information to conduct credit checks, fraud prevention, and other reasons. The user can decline to use this information anytime by changing their preferences in the app settings menu.
