Articles Posted in Junk Fees

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19 December 2024

See how JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® can help you.
Click here for the latest articles on Junk Fee Litigation.

NOTE: We represent the owners and operators of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality facilities. We do not represent consumers making claims against such businesses. When it comes to junk fee laws at the state or national level, we help the owners and operators of hotels, restaurants, and hospitality facilities understand and comply with them. When claims are made against them by consumers or competitors, we advise on strategies and defense of such claims.

Finally!

 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been critically looking at “junk fees” for a long time. Over several years, it proposed banning “Unfair or Deceptive  Fees” across many industries. However, on December 17, 2024, the FTC surprised many when it published a significantly revised version as its final “Junk Fees Rule” (16 CFR Part 464). The Rule is scheduled to become effective 120 days after its publication in the Federal Register.

 

Unlike its predecessor proposals, The Final Rule is directed primarily to live event ticket sales and the short-term lodging industry (including hotels and vacation rentals). It will require the affected businesses to clearly disclose the total price of the goods or services (and all ancillary goods and services) to the consumer upfront as the first and most prominent price. This most-prominent total price requirement has been driven by the desire to avoid any “hidden fees” during the consumer’s browsing for information. Most criticized are mandatory charges and hidden fees that often appear at purchase confirmation or payment. Consumers and regulators hate service charges, resort fees and other unexpected items hidden until the end of a transaction and buried as if they are part of the taxes or government-imposed fees.

The total price to be disclosed under the Rule does not cover optional fees, government-imposed charges, or shipping fees. They remain excluded from the total price requirement. Importantly, businesses must ensure that the final payment amount, including any additional charges such as taxes or fees, is displayed as clearly and prominently as the initial advertised price. This eliminates the practice of bait-and-switch pricing, where the advertised price is significantly lower than the final price once all hidden fees are added.

The Rule also prohibits misrepresentations of the nature, character and purpose of fees. An example is a charge for something vague, like  “convenience fees.”

Note that nothing in the Rule limits the types or amounts of fees, as long as the total price is transparent and the description is not misleading.

Although the rule is focused on the lodging industry and ticket sales, the FTC will continue to enforce fair pricing practices in other sectors on a case-by-case basis, which could lead to increased state-level enforcement. The rule promises to improve transparency in hotel pricing, allowing consumers to make better-informed decisions without unexpected charges. We believe there may be an important warning to all businesses — even those outside live event ticket sales and short-term lodging — that many will miss because of the seemingly limited scope. One indication of this is the following statement in the Announcement:

“Industries beyond live-event ticketing and short-term lodging are prohibited from deceiving consumers about fees and pricing per longstanding law. The FTC will use its law enforcement authority to continue to rigorously pursue bait-and-switch pricing tactics, such as drip pricing and misleading fees, in other industries through case-by-case enforcement.”

We expect to provide some more insight on this soon.

See the FTC’s Final Junk Fees Rule Announcement and Final FTC Junk Fees Rule.

For more context on the FTC’s ruling, see our blogs on Junk Fees here:

Junk Fee Law: Exception for California restaurants moves forward

California’s AB 537 mandates transparent pricing for all short-term lodging as of July 1, 2024 — $10,000 penalty for violation

New Federal Junk Fee Law – The No Hidden FEES Act of 2023 (HR 6543)

Jim Butler asks Mark S. Adams for update on California Junk Fee law: Would SB 1524 gut SB 478’s honest pricing for all?

Pricing transparency without hidden mandatory junk fees. Does this apply to restaurants too? New California proposed law (SB 1524 ) says “No!” Can this be right?

FTC’s proposed rule will end drip pricing and junk fees for hotels, restaurants, and many other businesses. Goodbye to resort fees, destination fees, service charges and other miscellaneous fees?

California bans Junk Fees as of July 1, 2024. Good bye to junk fees, resort fees, mandatory service charges, and drip pricing. Hello to – the fruits of SB 478.

Disclosing Mandatory Resort Fees – What Hoteliers Need to Know

Nebraska sues Hilton over hotel “Resort Fees”

Attorney General for DC sues Marriott International over hotel “Resort Fees”

Impending eruption of litigation over Resort Fees? What’s the fuss?

The FTC takes aim at hotel Resort Fees — The FTC 2017 Report

Picture of Jim Butler

This is Jim Butler, author of www.HotelLawBlog.com and founding partner of JMBM and JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group®. We provide business and legal advice to hotel owners, developers, independent operators, and investors. This advice covers critical hotel issues such as hotel purchase, sale, development, financing, franchise, management, ADA, and IP matters. We also have compelling experience in hotel litigation, union avoidance and union negotiations, and cybersecurity & data privacy.

JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® has been involved in more than $125 billion of hotel transactions and more than 4,700 hotel properties located around the globe. Contact me at +1-310-201-3526 or jbutler@jmbm.com to discuss how we can help.

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31 July 2024

See how JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® can help you.
Click here for the latest articles on Junk Fee Litigation.

NOTE: We represent the owners and operators of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality facilities. We do not represent consumers making claims against such businesses. When it comes to Junk Fee laws at the State or National level, we help the owners and operators of hotels and restaurants understand and comply with Junk Fee Laws. When consumers make claims against them, we advise owners and operators on strategies and defense of such claims.

Restaurants, Listen Up:
Rethink How You Disclose Your Fees to Avoid Junk Fee Lawsuits

As lawyers who specialize in representing hospitality owners, developers, independent operators, and investors, we have a critical message for restaurants: it’s time to rethink how you disclose your fees. Recent changes in the legal landscape have significant implications for your operations, and compliance is no longer a matter of choice—it’s a necessity.

Immediate Statutory Requirements

Let’s dive right in. California Civil Code 1770 now mandates that all charges must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed. This isn’t a future requirement; it’s already in effect. If you’re not disclosing fees on your webpage or menu, you’re putting your business at risk. The penalties for non-compliance can be steep, including lawsuits that could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, even if you come out on top.

We’ve already seen several lawsuits filed under “bait-and-switch” pricing, which is prohibited in Civil Code § 1770(a)(9). The new California Junk Fee laws may have created more confusion than clarity. The litigation is just beginning under the new Civil Code § 1770(a)(29). The so-called “restaurant exemption” of SB 1524 may not be all it is cracked up to be. In fact, it may be a trap for well-meaning business people.

If you’re unsure what that means, check out the video below for a detailed explanation. CONTINUE READING →

Published on:

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31 July 2024

See how JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® can help you.
Click here for the latest articles on Junk Fee Litigation.

NOTE: We represent the owners and operators of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality facilities. We do not represent consumers making claims against such businesses. When it comes to Junk Fee laws at the State or National level, we help the owners and operators of the hotels, restaurants and hospitality facilities to understand and comply with Junk Fee Laws. When claims are made against them by consumers of competitors, we advise on strategies and defense of such claims.

In a significant legislative move, the U.S. Senate is advancing towards establishing a new national standard for price transparency in the hospitality industry. The bill, known as The Hotel Fees Transparency Act, mandates that hotels, short-term rentals, and online travel platforms display the total price, including all mandatory fees, upfront. This initiative mirrors a similar bill passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year and stands a good chance of becoming law before the November elections.

In a new article, Sean O’Neill, senior hospitality editor at Skift, gives us the scoop on this bill’s journey, the industry’s reactions, and the potential impacts. The goal here is clear: to make booking more transparent for consumers and ensure a level playing field across the lodging industry. Jim Butler, founder and chairman of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group®, is quoted several times, highlighting the bill’s significance and the broad support it has received. Jim notes, “We are down to the final strokes of what could be significant federal legislation,” and points out the lack of organized opposition.

CONTINUE READING →

Published on:

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31 July 2024

See how JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® can help you.
Click here for the latest articles on Junk Fee Litigation.

NOTE: We represent the owners and operators of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality facilities. We do not represent consumers making claims against such businesses. When it comes to Junk Fee laws at the State or National level, we help the owners and operators of the hotels, restaurants and hospitality facilities to understand and comply with Junk Fee Laws. When claims are made against them by consumers of competitors, we advise on strategies and defense of such claims.

Jim Butler Discusses Pricing Transparency Laws on Hotel News Now Podcast

Effective July 1, California implemented two new laws aimed at increasing transparency in advertised hotel room rates by addressing hidden or “junk” fees. These laws require mandatory fees, such as resort fees, to be included in the initial advertised price, fostering a more transparent and competitive market.

Jim Butler, founder and chairman of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group®, recently appeared on a Hotel News Now podcast with senior reporter Bryan Wroten to discuss these new laws and their impact.

In this podcast, Jim delves into the history and evolution of mandatory fees in the hospitality industry and explains how these new laws benefit both consumers and hotel operators by creating a level playing field and promoting fair competition.

To gain a deeper understanding of these new laws and their broader implications for the hospitality industry, listen to the full podcast on the Hotel News Now website. His insights are invaluable for hotel owners, operators, and investors navigating this evolving regulatory landscape.

Listen to the Podcast Here.

Stay tuned to the Hotel Law Blog for more updates and expert analysis on legal issues affecting the hospitality industry. We are here to support you in achieving compliance and maintaining a competitive edge in this dynamic market.

CONTINUE READING →

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23 July 2024

See how JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® can help you.
Click here for the latest articles on Junk Fee Litigation.

NOTE: We represent the owners and operators of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality facilities. We do not represent consumers making claims against such businesses. When it comes to Junk Fee laws at the State or National level, we help the owners and operators of the hotels, restaurants and hospitality facilities to understand and comply with Junk Fee Laws. When claims are made against them by consumers of competitors, we advise on strategies and defense of such claims.

On July 1, 2024, the first comprehensive Junk Fee Law in the United States took effect in California. It prohibits drip pricing, which involves advertising a price that fails to include all mandatory charges and fees a consumer must pay. It requires upfront disclosure of the total price of goods or services upon first contact with the consumer. It applies to the sale of most goods and services, with only a few exceptions. A last-minute restaurant exemption was rushed into law — only two days before the law’s effective date.

In a recent program hosted by myLawCLE, junk fee compliance and defense lawyers Jim Butler and Mark Adams presented an update on California and federal regulations regarding junk fees. SB 478, SB 1524, and AB 537 are all in the rearview mirror and the final impact of these bills on our current law is a leading topic of discussion during the webinar. Jim and Mark also analyzed HR 6543 and S 2498, and the FTC’s proposed rule on drip pricing and misleading business practices.

In other words, this course includesthe latest information on all the changes to the most significant Junk Fee regulation in California, Congress, and the FTC.

This webinar took place on Thursday, July 18, 2024. To access an on demand recording, click here.

We have special free passes available for our clients and industry friends. If you would like more information on these passes, please contact Laura Bailey at lbailey@jmbm.com. CONTINUE READING →

Published on:

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1 July 2024

See how JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® can help you.
Click here for the latest articles on Junk Fee Litigation.

On July 1, 2024, California’s new Junk Fee Law took effect. It could have worldwide impact if prices for goods or services are publicly advertised and reach California residents. How can you avoid that with online ads and other public broadcasts over commercial media?

In anticipation of this event, many international hotel companies, cruise lines, travel providers, ticket sellers, and online sellers have already changed their advertising and promotions to comply with California law rather than risk violation. Watch for a big change to “transparent pricing” as you search online.

Take this short survey to double check your exposure

It is so much easier to prevent junk fee litigation than to defend it. Even if you “win,” it is expensive to fight government agencies. It can be worse combatting class action lawsuits by consumers with contingent fee plaintiffs’ lawyers. (Think of the 40,000+ lawsuits filed under the ADA and comparable state laws that provide for attorneys’ fees to plaintiffs)

Wakeup! It is July 1, and time to check the last-minute changes signed into law by the California Governor on June 29. Determine whether this law applies to you. Understand what it takes to comply or validly secure an exemption. Consider your answer to the following questions:

  • Do you offer hotel, restaurant, or short-term lodging facilities?
  • Do you offer consumers goods or services from California, or to California residents?
  • Are you going to rely on the restaurant exemption from the new law?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, consider a pro-active consultation to prevent unnecessary problems with the new California Junk Fee Law (as amended on Saturday, June 29, 2024).

Resources to help you avoid problems with California’s Junk Fee Law

The resources below provide the latest information on all the changes to the most significant Junk Fee regulation in California, Congress, and the FTC.

Free blog articles from the hospitality lawyers in JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group®. Extensive up-to-date blog articles, analysis and copies of the new laws and regulations.

Live Webinar (July 18, 2024) and On Demand recording. We have special passes for clients and friends of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group®. Contact Laura Bailey

Event Details

Date: July 18, 2024
Location: Live Video-Broadcast
Time: 10 AM – 12:10 PM PST
Agenda and Registration: Click here

REGISTER NOW

We have special passes available for our clients and industry friends. If you would like more information on these passes, please contact Laura Bailey at lbailey@jmbm.com. CONTINUE READING →

Published on:

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29 June 2024

See how JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® can help you.
Click here for the latest articles on Junk Fee Litigation.

Note: If you are a consumer with a Junk Fee issue, please do NOT contact us! We do not represent consumers. We represent owners, developers, lenders, and management of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality-related properties. We advise them on litigation, labor, regulatory compliance, contracts, transactions, financing, development, and strategies.

Understanding California’s Landmark Junk Fee Law
Revisions to the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA)

Transparent pricing bans hidden fees and drip pricing
by

Jim Butler
Partner & Chair, JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group®

Mark S. Adams
Hotel Dispute Lawyer, Partner & Senior Member
JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group®

First, the nomenclature of the forbidden practices, then the names for the law, a summary of the latest events, and details of the final California Junk Fee Law. In this article, we will focus on the changes to the California Civil Code (CC), and particularly CC Section 1770) of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CC 1750, et eq.).

The bottom line: As of July 1, 2024, California’s new Junk Fee Law is a comprehensive transparency pricing law that eliminates hidden mandatory fees. It applies to all businesses in all industries, except for a few specific exceptions. Restaurants are exempted if they meet certain conditions. Restaurants may find compliance trickier than apparent at first glance, and even a modest consumer backlash for this special exemption may be harmful.

CA Governor signs SB 1524’s new Junk Fee Law with “Restaurant Exemption” (if certain tests are met). SB 478, SB 1524, and AB 537 all go effective July 1, 2024. Unfair business practices redefined in CC 1770.

California bans fees and practices known by many names — junk fees, hidden fees, mandatory fees, drip pricing, surcharges, resort fees, unfair and deceptive practices, bait and switch, and consumer fraud.

Names for the new 2024 California Junk Fee Law

There are so many names for the California law that is making big changes, primarily to Civil Code Section 1770. It may be helpful to list the most common names, which include:

  • Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA)
  • California Junk Fee Law
  • California Honest Pricing Law
  • California Hidden Fees Statute
  • California Transparency Law
  • California SB 478
  • California SB 1524
  • California CC 1770
  • California Unfair Business Practices
  • California Unfair Competition Act
  • The price you see is the price you pay

Don’t forget AB 537 and its $10,000 civil penalties.

In addition to the amendments to California CC 1770, another Junk Fee law effective July 1, 2024, was introduced by Assemblyman Berman. He had a bad experience with a hotel “resort fee” he encountered in his private life. It led him to introduce the new law which adds a new Section 17586.6 to the California Business and Professions Code (B&P Code).

It is nicknamed the California Resort Fee Bill. It requires upfront price disclosure on first contact with consumers of all mandatory fees for all hotels, motels, and other short-term lodging rentals for less than 30 days. It carries a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 per violation. It extends to any advertisement, display, or offer of either from or into California.

It is also referred to as B&P Code Section 17586.6, and the Transparency in Short-Term Lodging Prices Act. CONTINUE READING →

Published on:

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27 June 2024

See how JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® can help you.
Click here for the latest articles on Junk Fee Litigation.

Note: If you are a consumer with a Junk Fee issue, please do NOT contact us! We do not represent consumers. We represent owners, developers, lenders, and management of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality-related properties. We advise them on litigation, labor, regulatory compliance, contracts, transactions, financing, development, and strategies.

On June 27, 2024, the California Senate unanimously approved SB 1524’s so-called “restaurant exception” from SB 478’s Honest Pricing Law. See, Junk Fee Law: Exception for California restaurants moves forward.

The Senate bill passed today was identical to the Assembly version passed on June 25, 2024. It was enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:00 pm on June 27, 2024

If signed, as expected, the carve-out of restaurant surcharges from SB 478’s ban on California junk fees will become law immediately. The fast-track processing of the restaurant exemption will save the industry from the July 1, 2024, effective date for SB 478’s ban on drip pricing for most other businesses.

This exception enables restaurants, bars, and other food service businesses to continue adding mandatory fees to restaurant bills, without including them in the price of the food or beverage shown on a menu, advertisement or other display, as long as the mandatory charge is clearly and conspicuously displayed somewhere.

See Final Text of SB 1524 as passed by Senate and presented to the Governor 6-27-24.

CONTINUE READING →

Published on:

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25 June 2024 [updated 27 June 2024]

See how JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® can help you.
Click here for the latest articles on Junk Fee Litigation.

Note: If you are a consumer with a Junk Fee issue, please do NOT contact us! We do not represent consumers. We represent owners, developers, lenders, and management of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality-related properties. We advise them on litigation, labor, regulatory compliance, contracts, transactions, financing, development, and strategies.

On June 25, 2024, the California Assembly unanimously approved emergency legislation in the form of SB 1524’s so-called “restaurant exception” from SB 478’s Honest Pricing Law. As the Senate’s concurring approval and the governor’s signature are expected by the end of the week, this emergency provision will be effective immediately and thus will prevent the Honest Pricing Law from applying to any restaurant, bar, food concession, grocery store, or grocery delivery service. [As noted below, on June 27, 2024, the Senate unanimously approved the bill, and it was presented to the Governor at 3:00 PM]

The political gymnastics to accomplish this result are extraordinary and somewhat controversial with consumer advocacy groups.

Mark Adams gives us the details of the situation.

Junk Fee Law: Exception to SB 478
for California Restaurants Moves Forward

by

Mark S. Adams
Hotel Dispute Lawyer, Partner & Senior Member
JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group

California restaurants are likely to avoid SB 478’s Honest Pricing Law effective July 1, 2024.

[Update note: The Senate unanimously approved the Assembly’s version of SB 1525 on June 27, 2024. The bill was enrolled and sent to the Governor at 3:00 PM on that date.]

In the morning hours of June 25, 2024, the California Assembly unanimously approved Senate Bill 1534, an emergency response to the special interests of restaurants and labor (the California Restaurant Association and UNITE HERE), exempting any “restaurant, bar, food concession, grocery store or grocery delivery service” from application of the SB 478’s Honest Pricing Law that was passed in last year to become effective on July 1, 2024.

It is too cumbersome to use the complete list of carveouts in this discussion. So, we will use the phrase “Restaurants and Bars” to refer to any exempted business in HR 1524’s list of any “restaurant, bar, food concession, grocery store or grocery delivery service”.

The State Senate is scheduled to approve SB 1524 in a concurrence vote this week, and send the bill to the governor for signature and immediate effectiveness. [Update: Senate approval was given.] CONTINUE READING →

Published on:

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17 June 2024

See how JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® can help you.
Click here for the latest articles on Junk Fee Litigation.

Note: If you are a consumer with a Junk Fee issue, please do NOT contact us! We do not represent consumers. We represent owners, developers, lenders, and management of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality-related properties. We advise them on litigation, labor, regulatory compliance, contracts, transactions, financing, development, and strategies.

As of July 2, 1024, California’s Business and Professions Code is amended to impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each knowing violation of strict transparent pricing standards for short-term lodging.

AB 537 applies to any hotel, residence or other place offering short-term” lodging (for 30 days or less), as well as any person or entity advertising a short term lodging price in California or from California (such as an internet site or platform).

The new law will be enforced by city, county and state legal officers. There is not private right of action under this statute.

AB 537 requires transparent pricing for all short-term lodging
Effective July 1, 2024

by

Mark S. Adams
Hotel Dispute Lawyer, Partner & Senior Member
JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group

AB 537, the California Resort Fee Law is misnamed. It should be the “Transparent Pricing for Short-Term Lodging Law”

Assembly Bill 537 (AB 537) was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 13, 2023. It becomes effective on July 1, 2024, and adds a new Section 17568.6 to the California Business and Professions Code applicable to all advertising for short-term lodging.

The bill was originally nicknamed the “California Resort Fee Law,” but it applies to so much more than just “resort fees.” It applies to any advertising of a rate or charge for short-term lodging (hotel, motel, residence or other place for 30 days or less) in this state or from this state

What activity is covered?

The amended B&P Code section applies to all advertising (in this state or from this state) for short-term lodging.

What is short-term lodging?

Short-term lodging is defined to include hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns, or other transient lodging.

It also includes any residential property advertised on a centralized platform and rented to a visitor for 30 consecutive days or less.

Who is covered?

The law applies to all of the following:

  • Place of short-term lodging
  • Internet website, application, or other similar centralized platform — such as a brand website, Airbnb, Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, hoteltonight.com, or other travel booking platforms
  • Any other person

What 2 things are required or prohibited to avoid violation?

There are two prongs or tests for transparency in short-term lodging under AB 537. It is a violation if a covered person does either of the following:

  1. Advertises a rate for the lodging, which does not include all mandatory fees, except taxes and government charges. (no drip pricing at any time)
  2. Takes a reservation from a consumer before disclosing the “total price” of the lodging with all taxes and government charges included.

AB 537 is the only legislation we know of that requires disclosure of all taxes and government charges before taking a reservation from a guest. CONTINUE READING →

Contact Information
Jim Butler, Chairman
Global Hospitality Group®
Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP
(310) 201-3526 • jbutler@jmbm.com
www.HotelLawyer.com

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