Las Vegas resort fees and other extra fees... I am very sympathetic. It is incredibly difficult to budget a trip through Las Vegas without having significant post event surprises. Almost everything there seems to come with a "catch" that was not prior realized. Here is what others have to say and I'll leave it at this, and start with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule.
FTC: Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees
The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC" or "Commission") is issuing a final trade regulation rule entitled "Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees" ("rule" or "final rule") and Statement of Basis and Purpose addressing certain unfair or deceptive practices involving fees or charges for live-event tickets and short-term lodging: bait-and-switch pricing that hides the total price by omitting mandatory fees and charges from advertised prices; and misrepresenting the nature, purpose, amount, and refundability of fees or charges. The final rule specifies that it is an unfair and deceptive practice for businesses to offer, display, or advertise any price of live-event tickets or short-term lodging without clearly, conspicuously and prominently disclosing the total price. The rule also requires businesses to clearly and conspicuously make certain disclosures before a consumer consents to pay. The rule further specifies that it is an unfair and deceptive practice for businesses to misrepresent any fee or charge in any offer, display, or advertisement for live-event tickets or short-term lodging.
The Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees: Frequently Asked Questions
Examples of mandatory fees and charges that must be included in the total price:
- An online ticket retailer requires people to pay a fee to purchase live-event tickets online. The fee cannot be avoided and must be included in the total price;
- A resort charges a nightly rate of $199, plus a mandatory resort fee of $39 per day. The required resort fee must be included in the total price;
- A vacation rental adds a cleaning fee that consumers must pay in addition to the nightly rate. The cleaning fee must be included in the total price.
FTC's 'junk fee' rules take effect on resort, ticket pricing
The Federal Trade Commission's bipartisan "junk fee" rules took effect Monday, giving consumers new protections against fees in short-term lodging and the live-event ticketing.
While the new rules don't prohibit resort fees or handling fees when buying sports or concert tickets, they order full disclosure of total pricing and prohibit bait-and-switch tactics that draw consumers in only to tack on unexpected fees that jack up the total price.
"This rulemaking is one piece of a broader commission effort to combat junk fees," FTC Commissioner Lina Khan said when the rule was approved in December. "In the last three years, the commission has taken enforcement action against unfair and deceptive fees at a staggering pace — securing hundreds of millions of dollars in relief for Americans who were saddled with junk fees. The commission's law enforcement actions have spanned a broad swath of the economy, touching on everyday expenses in areas like personal finances, phone services, health care, automobiles, housing and funeral services."
How are Las Vegas resorts responding to new FTC 'junk fee' rule?
Businesses were alerted in December of the changes that took effect Monday. The new Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees orders prominent full disclosure of total pricing and prohibits bait-and-switch tactics that draw consumers in only to tack on unexpected fees that jack up the total price.
To be clear, the new FTC rule does not eliminate so-called junk fees. It only requires companies to clearly show them in all advertising and on websites.
How to Get Out of Paying a Hotel's Resort Fee—It Can Be Done!
Resort fees are a scam. In fact, they're banned in most places except the United States. Here's how to dispute them.
Someone has created a dedicated site called "
Kill Resort Fees" that breaks down a great deal of what occurs and makes for a fascinating read about what is called "Resort Fee Collusion."
