Reported by:
John MatareseDoes it seem as though every business you deal with is hitting you with hidden fees these days? Turns out they probably are.
A new report finds sneaky fees in almost every popular service...from cell phones to hotels, rental cars, and airlines.
What's With All these Extra Charges?It used to be you paid $200 for an airline ticket, and was it. If a hotel room was $100 a night, thats what you paid. Not anymore! More and more people are looking at their final bill and saying "What's with all these extra charges?"
The group
Consumer Action says many companies are adding on charges that it says "disguise the true cost." CBS
Moneywatch calls these charges the fees we "hate the most."
The list of
most annoying sneaky fees include:
- Airline baggage fees, for each bag, and for overweight or oversized bags, that can add $75 or more to the cost of your flight.
- Cell phone activation fees, of $25 - $50, that you have to pay whenever you upgrade to a new phone, even as an existing customer.
- Hotel "resort" fees of $25 or so for the pool and workout room, even if you never use them during your stay, and internet fees for accessing the internet with your own laptop in your room.
- Rental car airport Fees, and other "concession" fees, that can add $20 a day to your rental car
- And Early Termination Fees for cell phones, Satellite TV, Gyms and other services, that can cost you an extra $200 if you try to cancel before your contract is up.
My advice? Don't be proud of finding a great rate...until you check all the extra fees. That $90 hotel room could end up costing $125 with Internet and Resort fees.
Next: What Can You Do?
