The food delivery service Zomato has started charging an additional fee of at least ₹5 when placing orders using the Cash on Delivery (CoD) payment option. According to user reports on social media, this commission can reach up to ₹20 in some areas, increasing the total cost for customers who prefer to pay in cash.
In addition to this new charge, the company levies several other payments, including delivery fees, platform fees, VAT on the total basket amount, VAT on the delivery partner fee, VAT on the platform fee, and packaging costs at the restaurant.
While competitor Swiggy has not yet implemented an extra fee for processing cash-paid orders, Zepto is accused of secretly adding up to ₹25 to such orders in the quick commerce segment.
Zomato has not provided an immediate official comment regarding this change. Previously, in March of this year, Zomato increased its platform fee by 19.2 percent, raising it from the previous level of ₹12.50 to ₹14.90. According to data available in the company's mobile application, the platform now costs ₹14.99 (excluding VAT). The platform fee is an additional charge levied by digital platforms, including food delivery apps, to cover operational expenses, maintenance, and technological improvements.