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FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

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Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#181

Post by xenospn »

breadwinner wrote: post #154
LoganDark wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My preferred way to cancel these types of services is to close or pause the card they're charging. If you use a virtual card service like Privacy.com, this is easy, if you don't, then maybe not so much. But using virtual cards for everything you can is typically a good idea anyway, imo.

But then that becomes unpaid bills and they send you to collections.

Simple anecdote, but when I paid a medical bill and they still came after me and sent it to collections, I contested the bill and told the collection agency that this is not my debt. Never heard from them again.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#182

Post by onlyrealcuzzo »

breadwinner wrote: post #140

This shouldn't be controversial. FTC isn't banning these fees, it is only requiring merchants to disclose the fees. Why would anyone be against that? Another good rule is click-to-cancel. Just a couple of days ago I logged into my Dish Network account to cancel it (after they hiked prices). There is no way to cancel online. There is no way to cancel via chat. You have to call. As soon as you call you're told the wait…

Of course it's controversial.

They do this to increase profits.

A certain portion of the population is pro-profit at virtually any cost.

It might seem like Dish employees wake up every day and say, "What can we do today to screw our customers even more?" But usually they're just trying to find ways to make more money.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#183

Post by danaris »

breadwinner wrote: post #154
LoganDark wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My preferred way to cancel these types of services is to close or pause the card they're charging. If you use a virtual card service like Privacy.com, this is easy, if you don't, then maybe not so much. But using virtual cards for everything you can is typically a good idea anyway, imo.

But then that becomes unpaid bills and they send you to collections.

You can probably avoid this—or, rather, cover your ass legally—by doing something like sending them a letter registered mail informing them that you are cancelling and will be blocking further payments.

It's far from a good solution, but it should at least put you in a better position vis-a-vis the courts if it comes to that.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#184

Post by theossuary »

nickff wrote: post #96
nabla9 wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a pro-market fan, Khan is great. Pro-market: pro-market advocates for policies that enhance competition and market efficiency. Understands that god markets are made. Pro-market advocates believe in creating conditions where businesses can compete fairly without undue advantages from government favoritism. Government regulation can be essential to correct market failures and promote a level playing field. Free mark…

Why do you describe “free market” as being ideological, and “pro-market” without those terms? Both seem equally ideological (or not).

Republicans have made the term ideological a negative one. Sure, the dictionary definition is to relate to ideology; but in practice (especially when talking politics) it implies one is picking a worse option because it aligns with their ideology. So their claim above is one is picking free markets due to ideology, whereas another would pick pro markets because it's actually the best solution.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#185

Post by kstrauser »

syndicatedjelly wrote: post #141
kstrauser wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you’re assertive enough, it is. “Oh, sorry, looks like we’d already applied the undercoat to your car.” “Ah, thanks!” “That’s an extra $400 charge.” “I’m not paying for it. I didn’t want it. You can have it back if you want.”

"Darn, sorry we can't make a deal. Hey look at all the people who need cars that are waiting!" This is not as much of an upper hand as you think it is, often these shenanigans happen after sitting at the dealer for a couple hours while they do whatever it is they do. Do you value your time so little that you'll just walk out of a transaction over less than a 1% difference in cost? The dealer knows how to play this ga…

Yes, I have literally done exactly that thing and ended up with the dealer eating the price. The dealer has time and effort sunk into closing the deal, too, and they’ll almost always chose a bird in the hand.

And also-freaking-lutely would I walk instead of eating a BS charge. Sometimes it really is the principle of the thing. My principle is I’m not paying a penny for something I didn’t ask for. A dealership I’d be caught dead doing business with will eat the bogus charges instead of losing a customer forever. Conversely, next time I need a Toyota, I have the business card of the guy I’ll buy it from and he doesn’t even know it yet. He treated me well last time and his investment in that deal will keep paying him back.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#186

Post by qeternity »

Symbiote wrote: post #94
crazygringo wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're talking about sales taxes, they can't until you input your shipping address. Because they depend on where you live. Nobody's trying to fool you by not including sales taxes. There's just no way to show them in advance, unless you want to start typing your address and zip code into every shopping website before you even browse.

In the EU, the site guesses the location based on the IP, writes "Delivery to Denmark [Change?]" and shows prices with Danish VAT. If I'm signed in to the shop from making a previous purchase, they will use the location of the previous purchase.

Yes bc in the EU there is national VAT. In the US there is state and local sales tax. You can and will pay different sales tax between cities in a given state.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#187

Post by dchichkov »

floxy wrote: post #163
dchichkov wrote: post #82

I wish that "Online Coupon Price Tags" in stores would also be banned. I'm talking about these yellow price tags that show lower than "Club" prices, which are only valid if you collect a coupon online. Like FTC, I estimate that banning these would save U.S. consumers millions of hours they currently spend searching and clicking on pointless coupons on their phones before making purchases. It would also increase happi…

>I'm talking about these yellow price tags that show lower than "Club" prices, which are only valid if you collect a coupon online. Which store is that with the yellow price tags?

Safeway, Walgreens.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#188

Post by insane_dreamer »

breadwinner wrote: post #140

This shouldn't be controversial. FTC isn't banning these fees, it is only requiring merchants to disclose the fees. Why would anyone be against that? Another good rule is click-to-cancel. Just a couple of days ago I logged into my Dish Network account to cancel it (after they hiked prices). There is no way to cancel online. There is no way to cancel via chat. You have to call. As soon as you call you're told the wait…

> banning it should not be controversial

for many people, any kind of regulation that restricts companies abilities to make money, regardless of the consequences for average citizen, is "wasteful and discourages innovation". Elon would like to get rid of the FTC altogether for that reason, as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was set up to help protect users from scammy behavior like this.

so yeah, don't hold your breath for the next 4 years (or longer if Elon manages to buy the next election too)

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#189

Post by coderjames »

dheera wrote: post #123

Can we be done with "resort fees" and "taxes" as well? Hotel prices should include all of this

> The rule would require service fees, resort fees, and other charges commonly added to bookings to be included in advertised prices.

Sounds like that's what will be happening if the rule sticks.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#190

Post by xenospn »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #42
guidedlight wrote: post #10

They should ban hidden taxes too. The sticker price should be the final price.

I remember shopping in Japan. The price on the tag, is exactly what you pay (same with services, like hotels). Since this is Japan, it's a high price, but no surprises. Also, the service is amazing , and they won't accept tips. If you leave money on the table, they will chase after you, to give it back.

The price part is essentially the same all over the world except for America, where you’re not entirely sure how much more you’ll have to add for taxes and tips.
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