How much do Google Pay charge per transaction?

Google Pay’s New Fees: A Personal Rant and a Look at the Alternatives

Ugh, let’s talk about Google Pay. For years, I’ve sung its praises. Quick, convenient, mostly reliable – it was my go-to for everything from paying my electricity bill to splitting the cost of dinner with friends. But recently, Google Pay has decided to join the party of apps charging fees, and frankly, I’m cheesed off.

The news hit me like a ton of bricks: a 0.5-1% convenience fee (plus GST!) on card payments for certain bills. A convenience fee? The irony is almost unbearable. I use Google Pay for convenience, and now they’re charging me extra for that very convenience? It feels like a slap in the face after years of loyal service.

I understand businesses need to make money. I really do. But this feels less like a necessary business decision and more like a cynical money grab. It’s the “nickel and diming” that really stings. It’s not a huge amount per transaction, sure, but those small charges add up, especially if you use Google Pay frequently, like I do. It’s the principle of the thing. After all this time relying on them for free transactions, this feels like a betrayal.

While UPI transactions thankfully remain free (a huge plus for me, as I use it often), the introduction of fees on card payments has left a sour taste in my mouth. It’s forced me to seriously reconsider my reliance on Google Pay. And I’m not alone. A quick search online reveals a chorus of similar complaints from other users feeling similarly betrayed.

So, what are my alternatives? Well, that’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? I’m exploring a few options:

• PhonePe: This app has a large user base in India and offers a variety of payment options, including UPI and card payments. I haven’t used it extensively, so I’m still evaluating its features and reliability.
• Paytm: Similar to PhonePe, Paytm is a popular Indian payment app with a wide range of features. However, its reputation for user-friendliness varies depending on who you ask.
• Other UPI apps: There are numerous other UPI-based apps available in India (like BHIM, Google Pay itself for UPI transactions), and focusing on these for now means avoiding the new card payment charges altogether.

Ultimately, my experience highlights a larger trend: the gradual erosion of free services. While the charges might seem small individually, the cumulative effect is significant. It makes me wonder if we’re heading towards a future where even basic online transactions come with hidden fees. And that’s a future I’m not particularly keen on.

For now, I’m sticking with UPI transactions on Google Pay and experimenting with other apps to find a suitable replacement for card payments. If anyone has any strong recommendations, I’d love to hear them in the comments below! This whole situation just feels… wrong. And I’m definitely not happy about it.