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CALLS HAVE BEEN made for an end to the ‘rip-off’ fees incurred when people purchase flights online.
The Guardian reports that the UK’s Office of Fair Trading has asked its government to ban debit card surcharges following an investigation by the consumer group Which?.
Which?’s campaign on card fees showed that some companies were charging up to €5.50 to take payment on a debit or credit card – despite it costing airlines only around 22c for them take the payment.
The company also found that purchasing tickets for a family of four could incur extra charges of up to €44 on Aer Arann and Ryanair flights.
It is asking retailers to tell consumers upfront about surcharges and to absorb smaller costs rather than passing them to their customers.
The OFT found evidence of companies using ‘drip pricing’ where they add on charges after consumers have filled in a number of web pages when purchasing an item or service.
It said it will “take enforcement action” if companies don’t stop these “misleading” practices, reports the Guardian.
Which? even operates a ‘card charges hall of shame’ section on its website, where consumers can check how much the charges could run to.
On page three of today’s Irish Examiner, Ryanair says the fees incurred when booking on its website cover the cost of its booking system.
It also said they can be avoided by using a pre-paid MasterCard.
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watch it just become an administrative fee or some other such worded fee, either way its not going to get any cheaper to travel
Pigs will fly before airlines give up that revenue. Particularly when it’s a charge per person per one way flight and not per booking.
Ticketmaster?
Well done UK it’s a start , EU follow on we want these loop holes closed for good !
Irish Rail also charge both an admin fee and a credit card fee for booking online with your credit card.
Well myself and a friend used Irish Rail yesterday and we went from Galway to Dublin for €3:50. But then again we were caught and nearly fined for it.
DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS!
This is stupid, they’ll just add another fee of €10 to ticket prices. ‘Classic’ airlines have it in the ticket price, only multiplied by15. They are the ones who rip you off, not the likes of Ryanair who I’ve been flying with for pennies.
Low cost airlines no more
About time
have your say