How to Avoid Hidden Fees Everywhere

It’s so easy to trust that retailers charge the correct prices. For many people, they get their receipts and never look at them again. The problem with that is that it opens them up to paying hidden fees that they never knew were there.

Actually, there are laws against hidden fees because many shady retailers find ways to rip off customers. If you don’t want to be a victim of sneaky expenses, continue reading to learn how to catch hidden fees.

What Are Hidden Fees?

Perhaps one of the best ways to avoid hidden fees is to fully understand what they are. Hidden fees are those extra expenses that aren’t disclosed when you initially see the price of an item or service. They’re not disclosed as part of the package, which often leads consumers to believe that they’re paying one price, when actually they’re paying much more.

This is a tactic used by companies in a variety of different industries. For instance, banks, cable providers, car lenders, and hotels are prime examples of sectors that incorporate hidden fees.

Chances are you seen an ad advertising a service for $50 a month. But by the time all of the fees are added, the charges are closer to $80 per month.

Types of Hidden Fees and How to Avoid Them

While it’s mandatory to pay taxes and certain fees, there are others that you may be able to avoid. Here are a few of them:

1. Cable Fees

One of the primary bills that you can count on to add hidden fees is your cable bill. In most cases, there’s an extra 24% surcharge on cable services than the advertised price. The reason for this is that cable providers started charging line item expenses that weren’t included within the base price.

Unfortunately, you may not notice these hidden fees unless you read the fine print of the contract. But according to the Television Viewer Provider Act of 2019, cable providers must disclose all monthly service fees. Not only that, but they cannot unnecessarily charge for equipment rentals.

Thankfully, technology has allowed consumers to have other options for watching television other than purchasing cable. It’s much more popular to have a streaming service rather than cable these days.

For instance, you may only pay about $10 for Netflix or Amazon Prime. The only thing you’ll need the cable provider for is the internet, which is relatively cheaper than a cable package.

2. Hotel Fees

Hotels are notorious for up charging guests with hidden fees. Chances are if you book a hotel, the nightly cost is just the base price, and you’ll pay a lot more. Many of the additional fees that are extra come in the form of parking fees, resort fees, booking fees, and Wi-Fi fees.

However, you could potentially save money by asking the hotel to remove some of the charges. For instance, if you’re not going to use the safe in the room, ask if that fee can be removed. Not only that, but some resort fees can be waived if you opt-out of certain amenities.

Consider joining the hotel’s loyalty program. Many hotels provide lower costs for their faithful members. It also gives guests the opportunity to accrue reward points, which ultimately pay towards future stays.

3. Event Tickets

When you buy tickets for a concert or sporting event, the initial price you see for it is likely going to increase more at the final cost. This is especially true if you book through Ticketmaster. In most cases, event tickets include hidden fees for order processing and facility charges.

One of the best ways to avoid these types of fees is by purchasing them at the box office. That way, you can cut out the middleman and avoid booking through a third-party seller.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always an option for popular events. For instance, if you are trying to get tickets to see an A-list pop star, tickets might go fast. That means that buying online is the best option.

Keep in mind that if you purchase tickets online, there’s no way to avoid the extra fees.

4. Airline Tickets

Before you book your flight, just know that there will be extra fees involved. The initial price for airfare includes hidden fees like checked baggage, seat upgrades, and Wi-Fi accessibility.

As you’re clicking along and buying your ticket online, pay attention. There are some charges that you can avoid by not checking a bag or purchasing a standard seat.

For budget airlines like Spirit, most of their prices are a la carte. So you’ll pay for the flight itself and everything else is added on. In this situation, consider only bringing carry-on luggage. It’ll save you lots of money.

You should also think about bringing another form of entertainment because in-flight Wi-Fi is a large expense as well.

To find out more about hidden fees and consumer protection, follow the highlighted link.

Pay Attention to Hidden Fees

As you can see, there are numerous scenarios where hidden fees can make their way into your bank account. It takes a bit of diligence to go over every bill and every receipt, but it’s worth the effort.

These days, crooks and even retailers are getting more clever in the way that they take extra money from consumers. Do yourself a favor and look over everything that you pay for!

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