topic Re: Businesses adding hidden charges in Community Chat

Businesses adding hidden charges

granddi — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 14:27:48 GMT

Hoave you noticed recently how businesses add on fees that were not disclosed at the beginning of your transaction?

The most recent was an out of warranty routine auto maintenance. We were quoted a price for some brake fluid and when we picked up the car there was a $25.00 courtesty charge. "What is this?" Oh, we charge this to all customers. That way when we check out your car and it need a little fluids like washer fluid or air in your tires, it is all covered!

We are all aware of the airline fees.

Hotels are just as bad as airline for hidden fees. You check on line for the price of the room and say it is $150.00. They should be required to tell you up front the state and local taxes and any parking fees. Many Las Vegas hotel charge a resort fee of anywhere from $25 up for each day. These supposedly cover pool, fittness,etc even if you do not use. These fees are not disclosed when you make reservations. We stay at several hotels (not resorts) that charge $15/night for parking--not valet-self park.

My soft water service delivery now adds fuel charge to my monthly bill. I know the owner and told him "just raise your rates" He did not have a good answer.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

SaRina — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 14:37:20 GMT

No, I haven't personally encountered this. I guess if one has this knowledge beforehand, one could always ask the business or vendor if there will be any additional charges (other than what has been quoted).

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

2blonde — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 14:42:53 GMT

That's a new one on me. $25 just to check the fluids and air pressure? What if you've already topped the fluids and filled the tires yourself (I do)? The place I go to (a privately owned business) just charges slightly more than that for an oil change which includes all those "checks."

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 15:06:12 GMT

@granddi....wow! I would not have paid the 'extra' amount.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

NicksmomESQ — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 15:12:57 GMT

My auto mechanic automatically tops off fluids & adds air to the tires at no charge whenever we go in for service.

Whenever I book a hotel I always ask what if any additional charges there are.A few years ago I booked a hotel through my travel agent for a week at a Paradise Island resort.A few days later I called her back to remind her to email me the detailed invoice & itinerary.When I reviewed it I was shocked.The resort charged $50 per day extra on top of taxes & fees.They called it a "deposit".It would be refunded 10 days after checking out if no damage was done to the room!! I immediately called my travel agent & cancelled the trip.She said she didn't realize the charge!!

She is no longer my travel agent.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

Plaid Pants2 — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 15:18:00 GMT

Whenever I have made online reservations for a hotel, just before I make that final click to confirm, I am ALWAYS shown a page that has the price per night PLUS the city/atate tax, PLUS all of the other taxes.

Want to get upset about something, how about all of those hidden extra charges on utility bills, huh?

Now THERE'S something to get upset about.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

Tribesters — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 15:52:19 GMT

@granddi

I think there should be a law that ALL prices are included. Skip all the surcharges & extra fees. The Vegas resort fees are getting even more ridiculous than usual. Some are even $40 per day + tax. And if you read the fine print it includes wifi for 1 device. So if you need wifi for more devices you have to pay an extra daily rate. Most of the casino hotels charge for parking now too. They don't even have coffee makers in the rooms anymore. And for goodness sakes don't open or remove anything from the fridge in the room. They charge you for that too! Even if you don't drink or eat it. If the barcode comes out of the fridge you just bought it.

I just had my car serviced. They asked if I wanted the fluid checks, etc.. She said it was free so why not? But I would have complained if they charged me $25 for that. Especially since I'd just filled up my windshield washer fluid myself. You should complain to your state attorney general's offfice about the undisclosed fee. You should have been asked if you wanted it.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

susan kay — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 15:52:56 GMT

Have you seen that commercial where this man is trying to buy lemonade from a little girl who has a lemonade stand in her yard? She gives him an itemized list of all of the extra charges that are added on to his cup of lemonade. Speaks volumes.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

Silver Lining — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 15:54:38 GMT

My cable company is constantly slipping in extra charges. They are usually between two and ten dollars each. I do most everything online but I do continue to get a paper statement monthly from them which is two dollars they started charging unannounced. I realize that some other places charge but they inform you in advance. I only want the cable bills on paper because it is easier for me to spot the extra costs they frequently add.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 16:08:53 GMT

@granddi wrote:
Hoave you noticed recently how businesses add on fees that were not disclosed at the beginning of your transaction?

The most recent was an out of warranty routine auto maintenance. We were quoted a price for some brake fluid and when we picked up the car there was a $25.00 courtesty charge. "What is this?" Oh, we charge this to all customers. That way when we check out your car and it need a little fluids like washer fluid or air in your tires, it is all covered!

We are all aware of the airline fees.

Hotels are just as bad as airline for hidden fees. You check on line for the price of the room and say it is $150.00. They should be required to tell you up front the state and local taxes and any parking fees. Many Las Vegas hotel charge a resort fee of anywhere from $25 up for each day. These supposedly cover pool, fittness,etc even if you do not use. These fees are not disclosed when you make reservations. We stay at several hotels (not resorts) that charge $15/night for parking--not valet-self park.

My soft water service delivery now adds fuel charge to my monthly bill. I know the owner and told him "just raise your rates" He did not have a good answer.

@granddi

Very good points, but I don't anyone should be surprised that there are taxes added. You should expect that. (When are taxes NOT charged?)

Here's another .....

I recall years ago getting a tour of a gym I was considering joining and we were going over the costs. One charge was a "$35 application fee".

I questioned WHY they were charging people just to apply to join their gym. His response? No explanation or negotiation ..... just "Oh, I can waive that fee for you", and he crossed the charge off the application.

Clearly this was just a way to pad the bill ..... or to give the impression that the applicant got a deal and paid less than other people who joined. What a rip-off! I didn't join. I felt it was a bad business practice and didn't want to give them my money.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

Puppy Lips — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 16:19:08 GMT

UPS Freight charges our business a $50 "Trade Show Fee" even if our products are not delivered to the trade show site. They are delivered to an advance warehouse. I can understand if they have to deliver to a convention site where there could be a wait time to deliver, but not at a warehouse. We complained and were told "too bad". They waived it for the first invoice, but not since then. Total rip off.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

Plaid Pants2 — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 16:32:09 GMT

It has long been known, known for YEARS that the food and drinks in the hotel room fridge is extremely expensive.

I don't know why that comes as a shock to anybody.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

noodleann — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 17:35:05 GMT

@granddi wrote:
Hoave you noticed recently how businesses add on fees that were not disclosed at the beginning of your transaction?

The most recent was an out of warranty routine auto maintenance. We were quoted a price for some brake fluid and when we picked up the car there was a $25.00 courtesty charge. "What is this?" Oh, we charge this to all customers. That way when we check out your car and it need a little fluids like washer fluid or air in your tires, it is all covered!

We are all aware of the airline fees.

Hotels are just as bad as airline for hidden fees. You check on line for the price of the room and say it is $150.00. They should be required to tell you up front the state and local taxes and any parking fees. Many Las Vegas hotel charge a resort fee of anywhere from $25 up for each day. These supposedly cover pool, fittness,etc even if you do not use. These fees are not disclosed when you make reservations. We stay at several hotels (not resorts) that charge $15/night for parking--not valet-self park.

My soft water service delivery now adds fuel charge to my monthly bill. I know the owner and told him "just raise your rates" He did not have a good answer.

That's not a "courtesy charge," it's a "robbery charge." A courtesy would be doing it for free.

What surprises me is we're on page 2 of this thread, and no one's mentioned the surcharges being slapped on medical bills, things like "facility fees" and the like. It's like buying a dress at Macy's and in addition to the price on the tag, you're facing a rent fee for the time it spent on the hanger, a pro-rata fee for the employees who prepped and hung it, a try-on room fee whether you used it or not, and another fee for the time the cashier spends ringing it up. It's nuts.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

Drythe — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 17:42:11 GMT

@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
It has long been known, known for YEARS that the food and drinks in the hotel room fridge is extremely expensive.

I don't know why that comes as a shock to anybody.

@Plaid Pants2

Yes, I think we all know the cost of snacks & drink in the mini-bars are outrageous. However, it used to be possible to make a little space in the mini-bar for your own water bottle (just for example) purchased for much less elsewhere. Now some hotels are charging for the items you move as though you consumed them. This happened to me recently.

I believe this is what the poster was referencing.

Wow, re: your principle! I might have run from the room.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

Spurt — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 17:49:15 GMT

@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
Whenever I have made online reservations for a hotel, just before I make that final click to confirm, I am ALWAYS shown a page that has the price per night PLUS the city/atate tax, PLUS all of the other taxes.

Want to get upset about something, how about all of those hidden extra charges on utility bills, huh?

Now THERE'S something to get upset about.

@Plaid Pants2

ITA when I look at my cable bill I get mad.........$44 in fees/surcharge/taxes---Ridiculous!!!

Franchise Fee , Sales Tax, FCC User Fee, Municipal PEG Access Fee, Broadcast TV Surcharge, Entertainment TV Surcharge

Yes, there are other options....but then you end up paying for an antenna to get local channels, and pay the fees for other options--Netflix, Hulu, or Sling TV.....and I refuse to go to Direct TV they are always threatening to remove channels so you have to go through a letter writing campaign etc!!! So they get you one way or another!!!

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

dex — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 18:03:36 GMT

A couple that I know went to a nice restaurant in Seattle and had dinner..the bill was 100.00 plus a 20.00 service fee t cover staff wage increases.She said they didn't tip after that.They had only ordered two appetizers,wine and dessert.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

scatcat — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 19:41:50 GMT

Our landscaper charged a deleivery fee for our mulch then an extra fee for "gas surcharge". I asked what it was and he said "it was for when gas was over $4 a gallon". Well it's not anymore and your facility is local and you already charged a delivery fee. Sheesh!

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

CelticCrafter — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 20:53:07 GMT

@Silver Lining wrote:
My cable company is constantly slipping in extra charges. They are usually between two and ten dollars each. I do most everything online but I do continue to get a paper statement monthly from them which is two dollars they started charging unannounced. I realize that some other places charge but they inform you in advance. I only want the cable bills on paper because it is easier for me to spot the extra costs they frequently add.

When I read the original post this morning, I wondered to myself when will businesses start charging for sending a paper bill. I guess I have my answer!

I pay all the bills on-line through the bank service but continue to receive paper bills - just in case something happens - at least my husband would be able to write a check to pay them and still have heat, light, utilities.

I know I should sit with him and make him do it but he's a guy and doesn't listen, so by next month, it would be gone from his head.

He doesn't pay much attention to finances and investments.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

Helen852 — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 20:58:47 GMT

We pay for our garbage to be picked up. It's billed quarterly. There's always a fuel surcharge on there, even when fuel prices are lower. Then for whatever reason we missed the last billing cycle and paid late. Next billing cycle, they charged us $45.00 to 'reinstate'. What! They drive by our house every Monday. DH called and threatened to change so they waived it.

Also the delivery fees on our electric and natural gas is more than useage.

Everyone wants a piece of us.

Re: Businesses adding hidden charges

JDJ555 — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 08:47:01 GMT

@susan kay wrote:
Have you seen that commercial where this man is trying to buy lemonade from a little girl who has a lemonade stand in her yard? She gives him an itemized list of all of the extra charges that are added on to his cup of lemonade. Speaks volumes.

Yes! @susan kay!

This is small amount but I was surprised when I used my credit card on eBay I was charged $1 xtra for that.