A Bengaluru resident is facing strong criticism on social media after sharing a post where he admitted to not paying an autorickshaw fare because the driver declined to accept UPI (Unified Payments Interface). The rider claimed the driver had marked the trip as “paid” on the ride-hailing app and refused to accept digital payment. In response, the commuter refused to pay cash and walked away after an argument.
“I said either UPI or I will not pay. I started recording his conversation,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), further describing that the driver tried to involve a third party to resolve the matter.
The post triggered significant backlash from users, many pointing out that the customer was legally obligated to pay, regardless of the preferred payment method. One comment read:
“You are legally required to pay for the service availed. The auto man is not legally required to have UPI.”
Others criticized the tone of the post, calling it dismissive of the auto driver’s situation. Some noted that the app itself reportedly listed cash as the only payment mode, a detail confirmed by the original poster in a follow-up.
Context: Cash-Only Signs Across Bengaluru
This incident comes amid broader concerns in Bengaluru, where many small vendors and service providers, including autorickshaw drivers, have started refusing UPI payments. This shift stems from fears over tax scrutiny after Karnataka’s Commercial Taxes Department used UPI transaction records to identify over 14,000 unregistered traders receiving digital payments above the GST threshold.
As a result, signs reading “No UPI, Only Cash” are becoming increasingly common across local businesses.