HIDDEN FEES Archives

Air travelers are paying more for less, and a sense of resignation has set in. Experts say consumers feel they deserve it after years of choosing low fares, but they shouldn't. This trend now extends beyond airlines to hotels and cruises.

Travelers are resigned to paying more and getting less. Do they deserve this?

October 14, 2025October 12, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Don’t look now, but air travelers are paying more and getting less — and they’re fine with it.

StubHub charged a seller $747 in fees despite promising a waiver after Adele's show was postponed. See how she fought for her refund.

StubHub charged me $747 in fees after Adele postponed her concert. But it promised not to!

November 8, 2025August 25, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Ellen Kwan-Portal just can’t let go of her Adele tickets.

a digital illustration of a forlorn woman with big eyes standing in front of a car. There is a pile of sand next to her.

Do I really owe Budget $450 for cleaning my rental car? It’s just a little sand!

May 24, 2025October 28, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

What’s this $450 cleaning fee on Irina Safonov’s Budget Car Rental bill? Sure, she rented a Chrysler Voyager in Detroit recently. And yes, she returned it with “a little” sand on the floor mats.

Vacation rentals may seem like the perfect solution, but don’t be fooled by glossy photos and cheap listings. From artificially enhanced pictures to sneaky extra fees, the vacation rental game has plenty of hidden traps. With prices on the rise, how can you find a deal? The key is in negotiating directly, using the right tools, and asking the right questions. But even then, are you really getting what you paid for? Before you book, arm yourself with these insights and strategies to avoid the biggest vacation rental gotchas.

New strategies for avoiding vacation rental “gotchas”

November 25, 2024October 6, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

If you’re looking for a vacation rental this holiday season, you already know about the biggest gotcha: the high price.

Julie Duteau noticed something strange on her last two phone bills: a surprise $10 fee for a "modem lease." Problem is, she already owns her modem.

This surprise fee made her phone bill skyrocket

January 19, 2024March 18, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Julie Duteau noticed something strange on her last two phone bills: a surprise $10 fee for a “modem lease.” Find out how to avoid unwanted surcharges like this on your bill.

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