Deirdre Cummings
Legislative Director, MASSPIRG
617-747-4319
[email protected]
MASSPIRG calls for end of hidden junk fees
Media Contacts
BOSTON– MASSPIRG’s Legislative Director, Deirdre Cummings testified today before the office of the Attorney General in support of AG Campbell’s recently proposed regulations cracking down on hidden “junk fees”.
MASSPIRG supports the efforts of Attorney General Andrea Campbell to crack down on deceptive and misleading advertising by reining in “junk fees”.
“Comparable, complete, and timely price information allows consumers to make the right personal choices for their pocket books while also leading to a more competitive marketplace,” said Cummings.
The proposed rules seek to require upfront total pricing, require disclosure about the nature and purpose of fees and taxes, and make it easier for consumers to cancel trial offers and renewal fees.
“For too long, we have watched as businesses have gradually stopped disclosing true prices in a practical or meaningful way. We have all experienced purchasing tickets, services, hotel rooms, subscriptions advertised at one price only to find the actual or final price is significantly more by the time we have to pay. This not only hurts our wallets but also harms businesses that truly are transparent and are disclosing total costs upfront, even though their prices look higher compared to the deceptive incomplete lower prices,” testified Cummings.
Consumer Reports estimates that 85 percent of Americans have experienced a hidden or unexpected fee for a service in the previous two years, and they report they are paying more in hidden charges than they were 5 years ago. The FTC estimates that hidden/junk fees cost consumers tens of billions of dollars a year in unexpected charges.
While the FTC and other federal regulatory agencies intend to regulate Junk Fees, it is important that Massachusetts also adopts appropriate regulations allowing the Office of Attorney General to enforce the law and protect Baystaters.