Biden aims to tackle ‘junk fees’ from businesses, demands transparency.

President Biden’s Campaign to Protect Consumers from Hidden Fees

President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that his efforts to shield consumers from hidden “junk fees” are yielding positive results. More companies are now committing to greater transparency in pricing, providing customers with upfront and all-inclusive pricing for their products and services.

A Win for Consumers

Several industries, including ticketing, lodging, and more, have joined the cause and pledged to eliminate hidden fees. This move is seen as a victory for consumers, as these fees can add up and make it difficult for families to manage their expenses.

“Junk fees are not a matter for the wealthy very much, but they’re a matter for working folks, like the homes I grew up in,” Biden emphasized during a roundtable discussion with company executives at the White House. “And they can add hundreds of dollars a month and make it harder for families to pay their bills. I think it’s just wrong.”

Companies Taking Action

Among the companies that have committed to eliminating hidden fees are Ticketmaster’s parent company Live Nation, SeatGeek, xBk, Airbnb, and TickPick.

In January, Live Nation faced backlash from Taylor Swift fans, as well as the White House and lawmakers, due to significant fluctuations in ticket prices and platform outages during the pop star’s tour.

However, Live Nation has now pledged to launch an upfront, all-inclusive pricing experience in September. This means that customers attending events at their 200+ venues and festivals across the country will see a single, transparent price.

SeatGeek, a ticketing platform, also plans to introduce product features over the summer to simplify the ticket purchasing process based on all-inclusive pricing.

Gaining Momentum, More Work to Be Done

President Biden sees these changes as a victory for consumers and a sign that the fight against hidden fees is gaining momentum. However, he acknowledges that there is still work to be done to address issues in the online ticketing market and eliminate junk fees across all industries.

Iowa-based venue xBk has also committed to implementing all-inclusive pricing for tickets. Other companies are following suit.