Airline passengers in the U.S. collectively paid $3.36 billion in fees for carry-on and checked bags last year. The figure actually represents a decrease from 2010, when we dropped $3.4 billion on baggage fees. Chances are, you …
Fees
See That Flight Price? Add $103 to It
Airline fees and a la carte pricing for flights may be highly annoying to passengers, but it’s also proving to be a highly profitable business model. Spirit Airlines, the “low-cost” carrier at the forefront of fees—since 2010, …
Airlines’ Same Old Story: More Fees, Higher Fares, Fewer Perks, Tougher Restrictions
Last summer, travelers griped about the onslaught of airlines fees—for early boarding, seat assignments, checked and carry-on baggage, and on and on—that could easily wind up adding 50% to the price of a flight. The summer …
Now You Can Be Charged—and Shamed—for Not Showing for a Restaurant Reservation
More and more, restaurants are requiring credit cards before allowing customers to make a dinner reservation, and they’ll charge you, and possibly say nasty things about you on Twitter, if you fail to show up.
Bank of America, Chase Fees Target of Consumer Ire Again
Updated: 6:15 p.m., March 1
Bank fees are in the spotlight again. The Wall Street Journal reported that Bank of America is planning to roll out new checking-account fees, and the news stirred up negative sentiment in the social mediaverse almost immediately, with consumers reacting angrily to the idea. Chase, meanwhile, wants to charge …
‘ING Direct’ Name to Disappear: Customers Disgusted as Capital One Swallows Favorite Online Bank
Ever since the Federal Reserve approved Capital One’s takeover of ING Direct, customers have feared that their beloved bright-orange online bank would change. Turns out they were right to be scared, as a recent notice is circulating announcing that the “ING Direct” name will disappear, probably next year. What else is going to change?
Spirit Airlines Campaigns Against a New Rule Meant to Protect Consumers
Will the new regulations protect consumers against misleading advertisements? Or is there some sort of government conspiracy afoot? While many observers welcome changes that promise to bring about more transparency in airline …
We Paid Almost $30 Billion in Overdraft Fees in 2011
They called it the “$39 cup of coffee.” At many banks, customers were automatically — often unwittingly — enrolled in overdraft programs that would permit debit purchases to go through even if it would overdraw their account, to the tune of up to $35 a pop. But a year and a half after new Federal Reserve rules kicked in to protect …
Verizon Wireless to Charge $2 for Some Online Payments
Updated: 6:45 p.m., Dec. 30.
Why should banks have all the fun? We can only imagine that’s what Verizon Wireless executives asked themselves before deciding to hit customers with a $2 fee — for paying their bill via a one-time …
Why Investors Leave $200 Million A Year Sitting on the Table (And How to Get Your Share)
Investors collectively spend more than $200 million a year in excess fees on S&P 500 index funds alone, a study finds. They get nothing for that money, which could be compounding in their accounts instead.
Would You Watch an Ad to Avoid an ATM Fee?
From e-mail to broadcast TV programming, search engines to roadside billboards, consumers are accustomed to being inundated with advertisements at every turn. Typically, the tradeoff for being subjected to ads is that consumers …
How Much Basic Checking at a Big Bank Really Costs
There’s been a lot of media coverage lately about Americans switching from big banks to community banks, credit unions and online banks. That may be a good move for some people, but we’ll come right out and say it: Some consumers …