News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices by impossiblefork on Tuesday December 17, 2024 @06:27PM (#42446556)
It's really basic contract law stuff.

Here in Sweden, if the amount isn't clearly presented, there's no agreement to pay the specified amount, so there's no contract and no obligation to pay-- an agreement becomes binding because of the reasonable expectation of a party on the counterparty.

I don't understand American contract law, since I even see ideas like changing agreements, which are completely contrary to the very notion of a contracts as I understand it, so it's nice that something is done about these strange practices.

I don't understand how it's come to this point though. That courts have been willing to tolerate things that aren't in the contract (i.e. changes to contracts), provisions that aren't clear, etc., and complex and strange provisions even in contracts of adhesion and things presented to consumers.

Re:FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices by LorenPechtel on Tuesday December 17, 2024 @10:13PM (#42447802)
Mostly it comes down to the fees being presented at the end rather than at the beginning. You have to follow the process through to the end to figure out what it would cost which makes price comparisons much harder.

Occasionally this is unavoidable--shipping charges. If they simply pass through what UPS charges, fine. Otherwise, they should be listed up front.

Re:FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices by impossiblefork on Wednesday December 18, 2024 @03:05PM (#42454450)
Ah, I'm thinking about EULAs etc. where people claim the right to change the agreement at any time etc.

With regard to shipping charges, don't you choose your shipping options and get to see the price before buying?

Re:FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices by Dylan16807 on Wednesday December 18, 2024 @04:39PM (#42455638)
Yes it's before buying, but the problem is that it's after almost everything else.
Re:FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices by foobarchu on Wednesday December 18, 2024 @05:07PM (#42455985)
You do before purchase, but generally not as part of the storefront product listing. That necessitates the seller already knowing where you'll be shipping it to, and that's traditionally the last step before purchase (whether that's best or not I can't say).

Sales tax is also usually added in at the very end, again because it depends on where the buyer is.

The difference here is that the "hidden junk fees" are just extra money they charge, with no real defence. For example, Ticketmaster loves their arbitrary "convenience fee", Airbnb was long known for "cleaning fees" (though they've improved here), etc. These are things that the seller knows they're going to charge beforehand and clearly they do this purely to trick our brains into thinking things are cheaper.