Urban Company controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Urban Company sues Kent RO over water purifier ads
Lawsuit filed
Urban Company filed a lawsuit against Kent RO Systems in the Delhi High Court. The dispute concerns Kent RO's advertisements and social media posts about Urban Company's Native water purifiers. Urban Company alleged that these advertisements and posts made false and misleading claims, including calling the two-year filter and service life features a "marketing gimmick" and describing the purifiers as "unsafe" and "risky".
Urban Company sued Kent RO Systems in the Delhi High Court, alleging that Kent RO's advertisements and social media posts made false and misleading claims about Urban Company's Native water purifiers, including calling the two-year filter and service life features a 'marketing gimmick' and describing the purifiers as 'unsafe' and 'risky'.
Company response
Remediation — Kent RO Systems
Kent RO’s counsel Rajeshwari H told the Delhi HC that the company would pull down the offending advertisements that are the subject matter of the suit.
Source excerpt
Urban Company has sued Kent RO Systems in the Delhi High Court, alleging that its advertisements and social media posts made false and misleading claims about Urban Company’s Native water purifiers.
Justice A J Bhambhani, who presided over the case, directed Kent RO to pull down the offending advertisements within 15 days from August 12, 2026.
Kent RO’s counsel Rajeshwari H told the Delhi HC that the company would pull down the offending advertisements that are the subject matter of the suit.
2025
Native purifier delisting dispute
Urban Company challenged the removal of its Native purifiers from Amazon and Flipkart after patent-infringement complaints by Kent, claiming that the delisting caused commercial and reputational harm.
2025
Insta Maids naming controversy
The launch name Insta Maids drew criticism for allegedly diminishing the dignity of domestic workers. Urban Company later changed the name to Insta Help.
2024
Bengaluru beauty-worker protests
Beauty professionals protested account blocking, automatic assignment features, and the difficulty and expense of obtaining remedies. Worker organizations described the revised conditions as exploitative, while Urban Company's leadership defended its quality and rating policies.
2023
Worker complaints over fees and account blocking
Reports described beauticians paying for training and workers experiencing temporary or permanent account blocks linked to cancellations, leave, or customer ratings. Critics argued that these rules could restrict workers' ability to earn through the platform.
2021
Urban Company denies workers' allegations
Company response
Urban Company put out tweets denying allegations of low wages and extracting high commissions from service partners.
Company response
Denial — Urban Company
Urban Company also put out tweets denying the allegations of low wages and extracting high commissions from service partners.
Source excerpt
Moneylife Digital Team 11 October 2021
Urban Company also put out tweets denying the allegations of low wages and extracting high commissions from service partners.
More than 100 women working with Urban Company (UC) as beauticians went on strike on Friday against low wages, high commissions collected by the company and unsafe working conditions for them.