So tired of sneaky charges/fees!

[stefania4]

I had considered sending flowers to a friend this weekend. Every lower-priced arrangement I looked at included a "9.99 service fee", in addition to shipping. So in other words, they have $45 arrangements, plus shipping, and $35 arrangements, plus a "service fee", plus shipping.

For heaven's sake, just raise the price and be done with it! I know it's a marketing technique, but it really !#@$!es me off.

[BarbaraL]

I hear you. Like the cell phone bill, there's the fee, and then all these additional service charges and fees!

[HejazSunKat]

Here's a good one: I wanted to buy Mall gift certificates for my 2 nieces. Well, they don't 'do' gift certificates anymore but psuedo-Visa cards. They charge you $1.50 per card AND if you don't use it within 6 months they deduct $2.50 off the balance even though the cards are good for a year!

[Canice]

I completely understand why ticketing agencies charge on top of ticket prices - I mean, that's their revenue stream - but do they have to call it a "convenience fee"?
Stephanie, I'd be p.o.'ed too! Did you ask what the "service fee" covers? I always ask and push back on stuff like that - just to make them face the absurdity of what they're doing to their cusomers.
Linda, I wonder if the mall's practice is legal? It would definitely be illegal in California on two points: Stealing back the $2.50 and putting a time limit on gift certificates. Under California law, gift certificates are the same as cash, and there's no expiration on cash.

[HejazSunKat]

Originally posted by Canice
Linda, I wonder if the mall's practice is legal? It would definitely be illegal in California on two points: Stealing back the $2.50 and putting a time limit on gift certificates. Under California law, gift certificates are the same as cash, and there's no expiration on cash.

I don't know if the deduction is illegal in this area or not, but it certainly is no favor to the customer. I don't have a problem with gift certificates expiring after a certain time period but I don't see why you should be penalized for using it WITHIN the period it's good for (a year). I looked at the woman after she explained all this to me with an expression on my face like: "You've got to be kidding me lady, right?" If I hadn't been so pressed for time and clueless as to what to get them I wouldn't have agreed to it. I didn't even like the idea of having to spend $1.50 just for the 'privilege' of buying the cards. :mad: That's what I get for shopping late. Fortunately you hand a 9 and 11 year old their very own 'Visa' cards and no way it's going to take a year to use!

[CompassRose]

You know what gives me prickly heat?

Bank charges.

There is NO WAY that I can have a bank account and not pay for them so kindly granting me the right to use my own money. No way.

There is no way I can HAVE money without a bank account. My employers will only pay by direct deposit now, and even if I did get a cheque -- haha -- you can't cash a cheque without a bank account. Nyah.

My money. I have to pay to use my money. When bank CEOs are making salaries that would keep a third-world country on the gravy train for a year or two.

It's iniquitous is what it is. No, usurious.

[mandarin2j]

Rental car agency add-ons are what get me. I was pricing mini van rentals recently, and the "base price" always looks great. But then the actual price is over double...and that's not optional extras like their insurance, it's just the mandated extra fees (not much in taxes, either...these are mostly just the company's fees). Like Stephania said, just quote me the real price and be done with it, already!

-Amanda