What is the junk fee rule?

What are illegal junk fees?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) recently issued a final rule (the Junk Fees Rule or the Rule) banning so-called “junk fees” in two key industries: short-term lodging and live events. The Rule addresses whether “drip pricing” in those industries is permissible, which has been an area of uncertainty.

What is the FTC final rule for junk fees?

Under the Rule, it will be an unfair and deceptive practice for “Business to misrepresent any fee or charge, including: the nature, purpose, amount, or refundability of any fee or charge,” as well as the reason the fee is being charged, in offers or advertisements made for any covered good or service.

What are the hidden fees when buying a house?

The “hidden” costs of buying a home include loan costs, title costs, documentation costs, property costs, and third-party services. The “hidden” costs of owning a home include insurance, taxes, homeowners association fees, emergency repairs, exterior maintenance, landscaping, interior maintenance, and utilities.

Can sellers leave junk in the house?

As the official owner of the home, the abandoned items are now yours to deal with as you wish. There's no need for you to contact the seller if you decide to throw them away.

What is the crackdown on junk fees?

The FTC's final rule modifies the October 2023 proposed rule and prohibits the live-entertainment and short-term lodging industries from using “bait-and-switch pricing,” which the agency asserts can mislead consumers on the total price of a good or service or deceive consumers on the purpose of a “junk fee.” ...

How do I complain about junk fees?

If you're hit with an undisclosed or misleading fee, complain to the company and file a complaint with your state attorney general's office of consumer protection or the FTC.

What is junk in law?

(d) The term “junk” shall mean old or scrap copper, brass, rope, rags, batteries, paper, trash, rubber debris, waste, or junked, dismantled, or wrecked automobiles, or parts thereof, iron, steel, and other old or scrap ferrous or nonferrous material.

What states have banned junk fees?

California approved a junk fee ban in 2023 that went into effect in July 2024. Minnesota approved a junk fee ban in 2024 that went into effect in January 2025. Arizona, Virginia, Hawaii, New York, Connecticut, and Illinois are considering junk fee bans in the 2025 legislative session.

What is the minimum charge for got junk?

The minimum charge for 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is one-eighth of a 10-foot truck bed, which generally costs anywhere from $100 to $150, depending on what you're throwing away and where you live. The maximum you can book is a full truckload, although you can always book multiple trucks if you need to get rid of a lot of stuff.

What is the new law on hidden fees?

On July 1, 2024, California banned hidden fees and deceptive “drip pricing” practices. The law applies to businesses selling or leasing goods and services for personal use in California, as well as resellers of goods and services like event tickets and online platforms.

How can I avoid realtor fees when buying?

Why are hidden fees legal?

The law requires honest pricing. It prohibits businesses from “[a]dvertising, displaying, or offering a price for a good or service that does not include all mandatory fees or charges” other than government- imposed taxes or fees or reasonable shipping costs.

What fees can be negotiated when buying a house?

Closing costs vary but can include loan origination fees, discount points, appraisal fees, title searches, title insurance, surveys, taxes, deed-recording fees, and credit report charges.

What is considered a junk fee?

A junk fee is an unexpected and sometimes hidden fee a company charges consumers for a service that often costs them little to provide. By Beth Braverman and Erica Sandberg.

How to avoid hidden fees?

What is the junk fee Act?

SB 478 prohibits advertising a price that is less than what a consumer will have to pay for a good or service. It applies equally to online and brick-and-mortar businesses, as well as to the resale of event tickets and other goods and services.

What is the FTC 3 day rule?

The Cooling-Off Rule gives you three days to cancel certain sales made at your home, workplace, or dormitory, or at a seller's temporary location, like a hotel or motel room, convention center, fairground, or restaurant. The Rule also applies when you invite a salesperson to make a presentation in your home.

What is the new FTC rule?

On April 23, 2024, during a special open meeting, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted 3-2 along party lines to finalize a rule banning any new non-compete restrictions for workers in the US.

Are resort fees legal?

So we're glad to see fee disclosures, for sure. But it's not what Americans have been begging for. Resort fees are still legal. Ridiculous fees in general are still AOK with the American government—even though Europe and many other countries have truly abolished them as an abuse of consumers.