Hidden fees are now illegal for hotel and concert apps

Good news: Hotel and concert apps and websites can no longer display misleading prices upfront, with hidden fees revealed only when you go to checkout. As of this week, the practice is illegal in the US. Amusingly, one of the biggest offenders – Ticketmaster – is trying to claim credit for complying with the law, acting as if it’s doing us a favor … It’s long been common for hotel and concert apps to show a misleading headline price when you first search for a room or event tickets. It’s only when you’ve been through several subsequent steps that hidden fees appear, often dramatically increasing the true price needed to make the booking. Hidden fees are now illegal The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced back in December of last year that it would be outlawing the practice. Consumers searching for hotels or vacation rentals or seats at a show or sporting event will no longer be surprised by a pile of “resort,” “convenience,” or “service” fees inflating the advertised price. B ... Read full article.