Free from fees? Bill combats ‘junk fees’

California lawmakers introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at fighting hidden or “junk” fees for everything from concert tickets to groceries.

Senate Bill 478 would prohibit companies from hiding mandatory fees that lawmakers described as a “deceptive advertising practice.”

“We all know how frustrating it is to get to the checkout and find out something advertised at one price actually costs much, much more,” state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said Tuesday during the bill’s introduction.

The practice has been common in the travel and entertainment industries in which buyers are met with exorbitant and vaguely defined “service fees” or “convenience fees” when checking out.

For instance, a “Platinum” ticket for Blink-182’s June 16 date at Banc of California Stadium was listed on Ticketmaster as $290.

But an additional $42.90 service fee and $5 processing fee brings the total to $337.90.

“As I’m sure Californians have noticed, we’re seeing this more often,” Bonta said.

The practice makes it hard for consumers to compare prices or make a budget.

“The prices advertised should be the price you pay,” Bonta said.

The bill, which was co-authored by Sens. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), would require that the advertised price of a product or service would include all required charges besides government taxes or fees. The bill arrives months after the proposal of a federal rule last year that would require airlines to list the “true cost” of tickets including the price of checked baggage and change fees.

Junk fees cost Californians billions of dollars per year, Dodd said.