The FTC is officially banning hidden junk fees from hotel and ticket prices

The Federal Trade Commission has approved a caller regularisation preventing hotels and summons sellers from hiding other fees associated with a purchase. Under the rule, businesses indispensable supply “up-front disclosure” of the full terms of a edifice stay, abrogation rental, oregon unrecorded lawsuit tickets earlier checkout.

The rule, which was archetypal projected past year, targets the “resort,” “convenience,” and “service” fees that often covertly rise the last terms of a edifice enactment oregon tickets for a unrecorded performance oregon sporting event. It doesn’t prohibition companies from charging these kinds of fees; it conscionable requires them to disclose the full outgo of a acquisition (including fees) erstwhile advertizing oregon displaying their price.

Additionally, businesses indispensable show the full terms of a acquisition “more prominently than astir different pricing information.” Though businesses tin inactive exclude shipping fees and taxes from advertised prices, they indispensable present amusement these fees earlier customers commencement entering their outgo information. The regularisation is acceptable to spell into effect successful April 2025.

“People merit to cognize up-front what they’re being asked to wage — without worrying that they’ll aboriginal beryllium saddled with mysterious fees that they haven’t budgeted for and can’t avoid,” FTC Chair Lina Khan said successful the property release. “The FTC’s regularisation volition enactment an extremity to junk fees astir unrecorded lawsuit tickets, hotels, and abrogation rentals, redeeming Americans billions of dollars and millions of hours successful wasted time.”