You find a hotel room advertised for $149. It looks like a good deal, so you spend several minutes choosing dates, entering your information and moving through the booking process.
Then you reach the final screen.
The room now costs $192.
A “resort fee,” “service fee,” “processing fee” and several other charges have appeared. At that point, many people complete the purchase because they have already invested time in it—even though the deal is no longer what they expected.
This kind of pricing is often described as drip pricing. The business attracts you with a low starting price and reveals additional charges later.
Not every extra fee is illegal. Businesses are generally allowed to charge fees when those charges are properly disclosed and permitted by law. The real problem begins when a company hides a mandatory fee, misrepresents the total price or adds something you never agreed to buy.
Here is what U.S. consumers should know when the price at checkout does not match the price they first saw.
What Is a Junk Fee?
“Junk fee” is a broad term rather than one single legal category.
It is commonly used to describe charges that are hidden, unexpected, poorly explained or difficult to avoid.
Examples may include:
- Hotel resort fees
- Ticket service charges
- Rental-property administrative fees
- Food-delivery fees
- Bank overdraft fees
- Payment-processing fees
- Dealership add-ons
- Subscription charges
- Cancellation fees
- Convenience fees
Some of these fees may be legal. Others may be deceptive, unauthorized or prohibited under a specific federal or state law.
The important questions are:
- Was the fee mandatory?
- Was it disclosed clearly?
- When was it disclosed?
- Did the consumer agree to it?
- Did the business provide the service?
- Was the advertised price misleading?
A fee does not automatically become legal just because it appears somewhere in the fine print.
Ticket and Hotel Prices Must Include Known Mandatory Fees
The clearest federal rule applies to live-event tickets and short-term lodging.
The Federal Trade Commission’s Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect on May 12, 2025. It covers businesses selling live-event tickets and short-term lodging, including hotels and vacation rentals.
Under the rule, the most prominent advertised price must include the mandatory fees that the business knows the customer will have to pay.
For example, a hotel generally should not advertise a room for $150 and wait until checkout to reveal a mandatory $35 resort fee.
A ticket seller should not display a $60 concert ticket and later add an unavoidable $25 service charge without including it in the upfront total price.
The rule is intended to stop bait-and-switch pricing. It does not limit how much a business may charge, but it requires covered sellers to be honest about the total mandatory price.
Which Charges Can Be Shown Separately?
Certain charges may still appear separately from the advertised total.
These can include:
- Government-imposed taxes
- Shipping charges
- Optional products or services selected by the customer
- Charges that genuinely cannot be calculated in advance
However, the seller must disclose these charges clearly before asking for final payment.
Optional charges must actually be optional. A company should not describe a fee as optional when the customer cannot complete the purchase without paying it.
What This Means When Booking a Hotel
Imagine that you are comparing two hotel rooms.
Hotel A displays a total mandatory price of $180 per night.
Hotel B advertises a room for $155 but adds a mandatory $40 destination fee near the end of checkout.
Hotel B is actually more expensive, even though it appeared cheaper in the search results.
The FTC rule is designed to let consumers make that comparison before investing time in the booking process. The initial price for covered lodging should include the mandatory fees known to the seller.
Before confirming a reservation, check:
- The total cost for the entire stay
- Whether the price is per night or for all nights
- Taxes
- Parking charges
- Cleaning fees
- Pet fees
- Cancellation conditions
- Refundability
- Deposit requirements
Take a screenshot of the advertised price and the final checkout screen. That evidence may be useful if the amount changes after you book.
What This Means When Buying Event Tickets
Ticket buyers often move quickly because they are worried that seats will sell out.
That urgency makes it easy to overlook extra charges.
Before paying, check:
- The ticket price
- Mandatory service fees
- Delivery or fulfillment charges
- Taxes
- Parking
- Insurance
- Resale status
- Refund conditions
Under the FTC rule, known mandatory charges must be included in the prominent total price. Taxes, shipping and genuinely optional items may be disclosed separately.
Look closely for preselected options. Ticket insurance, parking or merchandise may be added automatically even though you do not need them.
Remove anything you did not intentionally choose.
A Higher Final Price Is Not Always Illegal
A price can change for legitimate reasons.
For example:
- You selected a more expensive room.
- You added checked baggage.
- You chose faster shipping.
- Taxes were calculated using your address.
- You selected insurance.
- A discount expired before the purchase was completed.
- The price changed before you confirmed the order.
The legal concern is not simply that the final number is higher.
The concern is whether the business misled you about a mandatory charge or added something without meaningful consent.
Before accusing a company of breaking the law, compare the original offer with the final receipt and identify exactly where the amount changed.
Rental Housing Fees Are More Complicated
A rental listing may advertise an apartment for $1,700 per month while leaving out required charges for trash collection, package services, pest control, technology or payment processing.
Unlike tickets and short-term lodging, there is not one completed federal fee rule covering every private apartment rental in the United States.
In March 2026, the FTC requested public comments on whether a rule was needed to address unfair or deceptive rental-housing fee practices. The agency specifically asked about advertised rent, recurring fees, application charges and other mandatory costs.
This means renters should not assume that every rental fee is automatically prohibited by a new federal rule.
State and local laws may provide additional protections, and misleading advertisements may still violate existing consumer-protection laws.
Before paying an application fee, ask the landlord for a written breakdown of:
- Base rent
- Mandatory monthly fees
- Utilities
- Parking
- Pet charges
- Application fees
- Administrative fees
- Security deposits
- Move-in charges
- Payment-processing fees
Do not compare apartments using base rent alone. Compare the total amount you would actually pay each month.
Food-Delivery Charges Can Add Up Quickly
A meal that appears to cost $18 can become much more expensive after delivery, service, small-order and other charges are added.
Tipping may then be requested on top of those fees.
In May 2026, the FTC asked consumers to share their experiences with online food and grocery delivery pricing. The agency said reports and enforcement activity suggested that hidden or misleading delivery charges remained a concern and asked whether additional regulation might be needed.
That was a request for information, not a completed nationwide rule banning delivery fees.
Before placing an order, compare:
- The menu price in the app
- The restaurant’s direct menu price
- Delivery fees
- Service fees
- Small-order fees
- Taxes
- Tips
- Membership discounts
- Promotional conditions
A “free delivery” offer does not necessarily mean that the entire order is free from extra charges. Other service fees may still apply if they are disclosed.
Watch for Bank Fees You Did Not Expect
Bank fees may include overdraft charges, out-of-network ATM fees, monthly maintenance fees and wire-transfer charges.
Not every banking fee is illegal. The terms of the account usually explain many charges.
However, regulators have warned that certain unexpected overdraft fees may be unfair when a bank authorizes a debit-card transaction while the customer has enough available money and later charges an overdraft fee because of how transactions were processed or settled.
Federal rules also generally require a consumer’s affirmative consent before a bank charges overdraft fees for one-time debit-card and ATM transactions under an overdraft service.
When a bank charges a fee you did not expect:
- Review the account agreement.
- Check the balance at the time of the transaction.
- Look at the order in which transactions were posted.
- Contact the bank and request an explanation.
- Ask whether the fee can be reversed.
- Keep the bank’s written response.
A customer-service representative may reverse a first-time or unusual fee even when the charge was permitted under the account terms.
Be Careful With “Pay-to-Pay” Fees
Some companies charge customers extra for paying through a particular method, such as by telephone or online.
A convenience fee is not automatically illegal. However, a business cannot add a payment fee unless it is permitted by the agreement and applicable law.
The CFPB has identified cases in which debt collectors charged unlawful “pay-to-pay” fees that were not authorized by the original agreement or by law.
When a company requests a payment fee, ask:
- Is there a fee-free payment method?
- Is the fee listed in my contract?
- Is this fee charged by the company or a third party?
- Will I receive a receipt?
- Is the fee included in the total amount shown?
Do not provide payment information until you have verified that the company and debt are legitimate.
Airline Fees Have Their Own Rules
Airlines may charge for optional services such as baggage, seat selection, Wi-Fi, meals and lounge access.
Current Department of Transportation guidance says airlines must provide links to information about baggage and optional-service fees when consumers search for fares on airline websites.
More importantly, when a passenger pays for an optional service and the airline does not provide it through no fault of the passenger, the passenger is entitled to a refund of that service fee.
Examples may include:
- Paid Wi-Fi that did not work
- A paid seat-selection service that was not provided
- A baggage service that became unavailable
- A paid upgrade that the passenger did not receive
The airline should refund the fee for the unavailable service.
Save the receipt and document what happened. For broken Wi-Fi or entertainment, take a screenshot or report the problem to the flight crew when practical.
Car Dealership Add-Ons Deserve Extra Attention
A car advertised at one price can become much more expensive after documentation fees, protection packages, service contracts, accessories and financing products are added.
Some add-ons may be useful, but they should not be slipped into the contract without the buyer’s knowledge.
Before visiting a dealership, ask for the vehicle’s total price in writing, including all mandatory dealer charges but excluding only clearly identified government taxes and registration costs.
When reviewing the paperwork, look for:
- Extended warranties
- Service contracts
- Paint protection
- Fabric protection
- Theft products
- Tire-and-wheel coverage
- Guaranteed asset protection
- Dealer-installed accessories
- Documentation fees
- Financing charges
The FTC advises car buyers to compare the final written price with the advertised offer and to question costs that were not disclosed earlier.
Do not sign because a salesperson says a product can be removed later. Ask for it to be removed before signing.
Online Shopping Prices Can Change at Checkout
Online stores may add shipping, handling, taxes or other charges after learning the customer’s address.
Some of those charges are normal. The key is whether the customer sees the total before completing the purchase.
The FTC recommends checking the complete cost of an online order, including delivery, shipping, handling, taxes and other fees.
Before clicking the final purchase button:
- Review the item quantity.
- Remove unwanted add-ons.
- Check the shipping method.
- Confirm the return policy.
- Look for recurring subscriptions.
- Save the confirmation page.
- Review the receipt immediately.
Contact the seller promptly when the receipt includes a charge you did not approve.
Watch for Free Trials That Become Paid Subscriptions
A free trial may require a payment card and automatically become a paid membership.
That does not necessarily make the offer illegal. The company should clearly disclose:
- When the trial ends
- How much the subscription will cost
- How often the customer will be charged
- How to cancel
- Whether the subscription renews automatically
Take a screenshot of the offer and set a reminder several days before the trial ends.
After canceling, save the confirmation. Do not rely only on seeing a message that says “your request was received.”
Check the next account statement to make sure the billing stopped.
What to Do When the Price Changes at Checkout
Do not complete the transaction immediately.
Pause and compare the two prices.
Ask yourself:
- Which fees were added?
- Are they mandatory?
- Were they disclosed earlier?
- Did I select an optional product?
- Did the quantity change?
- Did a promotion expire?
- Is the final price still worth paying?
Take screenshots before leaving the page.
For each screenshot, try to capture:
- The seller’s name
- The item or service
- The advertised price
- The date
- The added fee
- The final total
Then contact the business and ask for an explanation.
A simple message can say:
I began this purchase based on the advertised price of $. At checkout, the total increased to $ because of a fee that was not clearly disclosed. Please explain the charge and confirm whether it is mandatory.
Keep the conversation factual. Clearly identifying the fee is more effective than sending a general complaint that the price was “too high.”
What to Do After You Have Already Paid
Start by reviewing the receipt and terms.
Contact the company and explain:
- What was advertised
- What you expected to pay
- Which fee appeared
- Why you believe it was not authorized or properly disclosed
- What resolution you want
You may request:
- Removal of the fee
- A partial refund
- A complete cancellation
- A corrected bill
- A written explanation
Keep copies of emails and chat messages. When speaking by telephone, record the date, time, representative’s name and any case number.
Can You Dispute the Charge With Your Credit-Card Company?
A billing dispute may be available when a merchant charges an incorrect amount, fails to deliver what was purchased or bills the consumer for something not accepted.
Credit-card protections and deadlines depend on the type of dispute. The FTC advises consumers to contact the card issuer promptly and follow its instructions, including any requirement to submit a written dispute.
Do not automatically file a dispute simply because you regret the purchase.
First try to resolve the issue with the seller, unless the transaction appears fraudulent or immediate action is necessary.
Debit-card protections differ from credit-card protections, so contact the bank quickly when an unauthorized debit appears.
Where to Report a Hidden Fee
The right agency depends on the business and charge.
Consumers may report deceptive ticket or short-term lodging fees to the FTC. The FTC specifically asks consumers to report businesses they believe are violating its fee rule.
Other options may include:
- A state attorney general
- A state consumer-protection office
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for qualifying financial products
- The Department of Transportation for airline issues
- A local housing agency for rental disputes
- The credit-card issuer for billing errors
USAGov directs consumers with unresolved online-purchase complaints to resources including state attorneys general and state consumer-protection offices.
A report does not guarantee an individual refund, but it may help regulators identify a pattern involving the same company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all junk fees illegal?
No.
Some fees are legal when they are clearly disclosed, authorized and connected to a real service. Others may be illegal because they are deceptive, unauthorized or prohibited by a particular law.
Can a hotel add a mandatory resort fee at checkout?
For covered short-term lodging, known mandatory charges must be included in the upfront total price under the FTC’s fee rule.
Taxes and certain charges may be shown separately, but they must be disclosed before final payment.
Can a ticket website charge a service fee?
Yes, but known mandatory service fees must be included in the prominently displayed total price for covered live-event tickets.
The rule focuses on truthful upfront pricing rather than banning the fee itself.
Does “free delivery” mean there are no other fees?
Not necessarily.
A company may offer free delivery while separately charging a disclosed service fee or another charge. Review the complete order total rather than relying on the promotional phrase.
Can an airline keep my Wi-Fi fee when the Wi-Fi did not work?
A passenger is entitled to a refund when a paid optional airline service was unavailable through no fault of the passenger.
Can my bank charge an overdraft fee when I had money available?
The answer depends on what happened and the account terms.
Regulators have warned that certain unanticipated overdraft fees may be unfair, particularly when a transaction was authorized while sufficient funds appeared to be available.
Ask the bank for a detailed explanation and request a reversal when appropriate.
Should I pay a fee and complain later?
When possible, stop before paying.
Once the transaction is complete, obtaining a refund may require more time and evidence. Take screenshots and ask the company to explain the fee before submitting payment.
Final Takeaway
An extra fee is not automatically illegal, but a business should not lure customers with one price and reveal unavoidable charges only after they have spent time completing the purchase.
For live-event tickets and short-term lodging, federal rules require covered sellers to include known mandatory fees in the upfront total price.
In other industries, protections depend on the type of business, the agreement and federal, state or local law.
The best habit is simple: slow down at checkout.
Compare the advertised price with the final amount, remove anything you did not choose and save evidence when the numbers do not match. When a fee looks misleading or unauthorized, contact the company in writing and report the issue to the appropriate agency when it is not resolved.
This article provides general consumer information and is not legal or financial advice. Rights may vary according to the transaction and applicable federal, state or local law.
