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Do you hate Resort Fees, Hotel “Destination Fees,” Airbnb “Cleaning Fees,” Ticket “Service Fees,” and similar? The FTC has extended the deadline to February 7, 2024, for you to comment on the proposed Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees.
Here's the link to comment.
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What Commenters are Saying About Resort Fees
At this point there are over 2700 comments; here are just a few of the comments on resort fees:
““Resort fees” are misleading to the consumer, but there’s more to the story . . . these fees allow [hotels] to advertise deceptively-low rates in order to appear less expensive than competitors. Second, most hotels do not pay travel agents or online travel agencies (OTAs) commission on the “resort fee” portion of the sale, effectively cheating the agents out of a percentage of the actual room rate. Third, in some localities, the “resort fee” is not subject to various taxes, so the local government is likewise cheated out of a portion of the hotel’s room revenues. It is long past time to eliminate these fees, but even forcing hotels to include them up front in the total price would be a good start.” –Mary Waring
“As a hotel general manager myself, I hate these fees . . . This fee is generally mandated by the owners of the hotel and not necessarily the management company, however, as a frequent traveler myself, the transparency of fees upfront is most important. I say outlaw these things entirely and force companies to include all costs in the subtotal and then add taxes. These fees should not be below the subtotal and then added just to increase the profitability of the hotel. I am frequently told by senior leadership that these fees are almost completely profit . . . WiFi, access to the fitness center/pool, and use of an in-room safe should all just be included in the cost for the room up front.” –Anonymous
“Deceptive fees on cell phone plans, hotels, and concert/event tickets are more than just a nuisance; they're an unfair burden on consumers. These hidden costs are often disproportionate to the service provided, lacking transparency and justification. Limiting these fees is not just about saving money, it's about fairness and transparency in pricing. Consumers deserve to know the true cost of a service upfront, without being surprised by additional charges. It's time for regulations that protect consumers from these deceptive practices and promote honest business operations.” –Donald French
“I support the FTC’s efforts to protect American consumers and crack down on unscrupulous businesses that tack on junk fees at the end of the purchasing process. I’m in the hotel business and we charge a property fee which often surprises people. As a consumer, I agree and I think these hidden fees should be banned or disclosed in a more forthright way. I urge you to pass this rule to not only save consumers tens of billions of dollars each year, but to level the playing field for honest businesses who are transparent about the their costs and fees.” –Robert Flacke
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