What's the strangest fee or service charge you've ever seen?

[nikopolidis]

Sometimes I didn't understand when people charge you for the toilet in trade centers, railway stations, airports e.t.c.. I am convinced that WC should be free in such public places..
I like the way they get money for WC that I saw in Amsterdam's restaurant..
They just put a plate near the toilet.. Those who think they should pay - pay (as much as they want to pay), those who don't want to pay - just don't pay..
I payed 50 cents..

 

[nikopolidis]

Oh, one more funny thing about charges in restaurants...
In some restaurants tips are included in you bill... But when you pay your bill you often don't notice this line ("tips" or "service") and leave some more money for tips.. So there is a double charge for service.. Nice trick!

 

[Unspeaked]

If you consumers would not respond to "Lowest Price" marketing like you do, they wouldn't have to unbundle all these charges to be competitive. Also, why on earth shouldn't the consumer have to pay for every service and item they receive? You can bet the businesses all have to pay to provide them, even the water or salt and pepper you get for "free".

I think you completely misread my post, or have no idea what is being referred to (or a combination of both).

This has nothing to do with "Lowest Price" marketing, this is about fees and service charges that are complete scams.

Are the costs to a bank that charges an "account maintenance fee" for balances under $1,000 any different when the customer's balance dips to $999.99? I don't think so, but they charge you $30 anyway.

Does the gas a car rental agency sells you cost them anymore when you return the car at the end of the day than when you picked it up that morning? No, but they charge you at least 100% more for it.

Speaking of car rentals, why do many rental places force you to use their insurance if you're already covered under your own plan or through your credit card? They basically force you to buy something you don't need, and pay for it twice.

What about the fee I mentioned earlier that cell providers charge to collect the other fees?

What about hotel mini bars that charge you when you touch an item in the fridge? Not eat it, mind you, but imply pick it up to look at it - perhaps curious if the candy bar has peanuts because of your allergies...

I don't see how any right-mined person could think these sorts of fees are justified.

 

[Eraserhead]

The last place I went that did that tacked on something like 10%.

Its always "optional" so you don't actually have to pay it.

But the service fees I hate most by far are banking fees. They pay you three cents in interest and then take away $3.95 in service charges.

I assume they don't charge a fee to put the interest into your account .

While I was in Europe last week I flew from Pisa to London on RyanAir. They charged me and my fiancée €4 each to print boarding passes for the flight because we didn't check in online.

RyanAir also refuses to allow its staff to charge mobile phones in the office to save money.

 

[arkitect]

What about hotel mini bars that charge you when you touch an item in the fridge? Not eat it, mind you, but imply pick it up to look at it - perhaps curious if the candy bar has peanuts because of your allergies...

How would they know you had touched it/picked it up?
Unless they have cameras inside the mini-bar…

 

[Unspeaked]

How would they know you had touched it/picked it up?
Unless they have cameras inside the mini-bar…

Some hotels have their minibars rigged to a system where there's a trigger that's released when something is taken out of its slot. At that point, they can charge you immediately for it, or if it's not replaced within a certain time period (10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute... whatever).

This isn't that uncommon in boutique places like the Ian Schrager chain.

 

[atszyman]

Some hotels have their minibars rigged to a system where there's a trigger that's released when something is taken out of its slot. At that point, they can charge you immediately for it, or if it's not replaced within a certain time period (10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute... whatever).

This isn't that uncommon in boutique places like the Ian Schrager chain.

I could see a trigger that is around 5-10 minutes. How long does it take to look a wrapper and decide I want to eat this? And it would protect against people who eat the stuff out of the minibar and then replace it with identical stuff from the gas station to avoid the fees. While it shouldn't make the hotel any difference I can see where they would want to prevent this kind of behaviour, it would be like going to the movies and stealing an $8 box of Junior mints and then going back and replacing it with an identical box from Walmart for $1.50 later. It saves you money and makes you're conscience feel better, but at best it's morally questionable.

 

[arkitect]

Some hotels have their minibars rigged to a system where there's a trigger that's released when something is taken out of its slot. At that point, they can charge you immediately for it, or if it's not replaced within a certain time period (10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute... whatever).

This isn't that uncommon in boutique places like the Ian Schrager chain.

Well it must be a USA/North America thing…
I have never seen that system in a mini-bar in Europe — not that I usually open them as a rule in any case… hummm.
The St Martins Lane hotel in London (Schrager) doesn't have mini bars like that.

Still… definitely a strange fee.

 

[Unspeaked]

I could see a trigger that is around 5-10 minutes. How long does it take to look a wrapper and decide I want to eat this? And it would protect against people who eat the stuff out of the minibar and then replace it with identical stuff from the gas station to avoid the fees. While it shouldn't make the hotel any difference I can see where they would want to prevent this kind of behaviour, it would be like going to the movies and stealing an $8 box of Junior mints and then going back and replacing it with an identical box from Walmart for $1.50 later. It saves you money and makes you're conscience feel better, but at best it's morally questionable.

I agree with a 5 - 10 minute thing not being a big deal, but I've never seen one of these systems where the trigger is any more than 60 seconds, and the majority of them are immediate.

 

[Daveman Deluxe]

What about hotel mini bars that charge you when you touch an item in the fridge? Not eat it, mind you, but imply pick it up to look at it - perhaps curious if the candy bar has peanuts because of your allergies...

QFT. One time in Golden Sands, Bulgaria, a friend and I got charged twenty-three Lev for using the mini-bar, when we hadn't eaten a single thing out of it. We HAD used it to keep some drinks of our own cold, but nothing was opened and everything was put back in its place. We were in a hurry so we paid them the money, but it was a total fabrication.

A mini-bar is a machine that makes everything expensive. When I take something out of the mini-bar, I always fathom that I'll go and replace it before they check it off, but they make that stuff impossible to replace. I go to the store and ask, "Do you have Coke in a glass harmonica? Do you have individually wrapped cashews?"

 

[Unspeaked]

QFT. One time in Golden Sands, Bulgaria, a friend and I got charged twenty-three Lev for using the mini-bar, when we hadn't eaten a single thing out of it. We HAD used it to keep some drinks of our own cold, but nothing was opened and everything was put back in its place. We were in a hurry so we paid them the money, but it was a total fabrication.

Yeah, mini bars are great for taking out the (non-perishable) contents and using them to cool things.

Nowadays, I give back the key at check-in. That way, I know they can't accuse me of anything...

 

[PlaceofDis]

ticketmaster fees are insane. literally.

$8 per ticket the last time i ordered online with them. plus a processing fee. etc.

 

[ArmyKnight12]

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SmartSpending/ConsumerActionGuide/The12MostOutrageousFees.aspx

This recent article talks all about companies nickle and diming customers with special fees.

"The put-it-back-where-you-got-it fee. Along with the banquet of fees that hotels have added in recent years is one of $5 to $10 to restock the minibar. Yes, that's after the $10 charge for the peanuts. (And some minibars now come with electronic sensors that automatically bill your hotel room if you even pick up a Snickers.)" That's nuts!

 

[smokeyrabbit]

I think you completely misread my post, or have no idea what is being referred to (or a combination of both).

This has nothing to do with "Lowest Price" marketing, this is about fees and service charges that are complete scams.

Are the costs to a bank that charges an "account maintenance fee" for balances under $1,000 any different when the customer's balance dips to $999.99? I don't think so, but they charge you $30 anyway.

Does the gas a car rental agency sells you cost them anymore when you return the car at the end of the day than when you picked it up that morning? No, but they charge you at least 100% more for it.

Speaking of car rentals, why do many rental places force you to use their insurance if you're already covered under your own plan or through your credit card? They basically force you to buy something you don't need, and pay for it twice.


What about the fee I mentioned earlier that cell providers charge to collect the other fees?

What about hotel mini bars that charge you when you touch an item in the fridge? Not eat it, mind you, but imply pick it up to look at it - perhaps curious if the candy bar has peanuts because of your allergies...

I don't see how any right-mined person could think these sorts of fees are justified.

So you're resorting to an attempt to be condescending. At your young age I would not expect you to understand how a business operates or manages costs, especially with your background. Ask a bank manager why small accounts have minimum balance fees, it's because banks are in business for profit and small accounts cost more per dollar earned to maintain.

Do you really believe that it doesn't cost a rental company anything to fill up a car's tank? They have to pay an employee to leave the premises and go fill up the tank. No employee I've ever had would do that on their own time.

A rental company certainly may dictate it's own (lawful) terms. If you don't like being forced to buy insurance, then rent from another company. Also, they have to purchase insurance policies to cover damage to the vehicles by renters, so why should they give you that for free? I don't remember being forced to purchase extra insurance once you're over the age of 25; however since you are liable for any damage to the vehicle whether or not your personal policy covers it, at the rental counter you feel like purchasing it just to be safe. Fear is a strong motivator, as every good insurance agent knows.

I never attempted to defend nickel-and-diming, I am just trying to point out that because the average consumer will try to switch cell phone plans if they see one advertised for $5 per month less, most businesses have to resort to adding small charges to 1) cover their expenses, and 2) retain competitive marketing.

About the hotel mini-bars, again, if you don't like the terms and conditions put forth in their contract before you sign, don't stay there. Every for profit business is entitled to cover their costs and maximize their profits by whatever means they devise, within whatever regulations govern the particular business. In fact, the investors in that business would say that is the only purpose for the business to be receiving their hard earned cash in the first place.

A "scam" would be if you were not informed in advance of these charges, but all the examples that are in this thread are in the contracts that we sign and "read" ahead of time.

I realize that you just want to complain on the internet about something that you're frustrated with, so I don't expect you to see my point of view. I just had an extra 5 minutes to type this reply. So, peace, dude

 

[Unspeaked]

So you're resorting to an attempt to be condescending. At your young age I would not expect you to understand how a business operates or manages costs, especially with your background. Ask a bank manager why small accounts have minimum balance fees, it's because banks are in business for profit and small accounts cost more per dollar earned to maintain.

Do you really believe that it doesn't cost a rental company anything to fill up a car's tank? They have to pay an employee to leave the premises and go fill up the tank. No employee I've ever had would do that on their own time.

A rental company certainly may dictate it's own (lawful) terms. If you don't like being forced to buy insurance, then rent from another company. Also, they have to purchase insurance policies to cover damage to the vehicles by renters, so why should they give you that for free? I don't remember being forced to purchase extra insurance once you're over the age of 25; however since you are liable for any damage to the vehicle whether or not your personal policy covers it, at the rental counter you feel like purchasing it just to be safe. Fear is a strong motivator, as every good insurance agent knows.

I never attempted to defend nickel-and-diming, I am just trying to point out that because the average consumer will try to switch cell phone plans if they see one advertised for $5 per month less, most businesses have to resort to adding small charges to 1) cover their expenses, and 2) retain competitive marketing.

About the hotel mini-bars, again, if you don't like the terms and conditions put forth in their contract before you sign, don't stay there. Every for profit business is entitled to cover their costs and maximize their profits by whatever means they devise, within whatever regulations govern the particular business. In fact, the investors in that business would say that is the only purpose for the business to be receiving their hard earned cash in the first place.

A "scam" would be if you were not informed in advance of these charges, but all the examples that are in this thread are in the contracts that we sign and "read" ahead of time.

I realize that you just want to complain on the internet about something that you're frustrated with, so I don't expect you to see my point of view. I just had an extra 5 minutes to type this reply. So, peace, dude

I don't think any part of my reply to you was condescending. Perhaps you're taking it a little too personally.

I realize it costs money for a rental company to fill up a gas tank. If you read my reply again, you'll see I was saying it doesn't cost them anymore to do it at 10pm than 10am - and it doesn't.

You also bring up cell phone companies making small charges for canceling service. Small charges would be understandable, but in reality these fees start at around $200. That's several months service. Also, you'll see that I never used termination fees from cell phone companies as an example of nickel and diming because, frankly, I have no objection to them even if they were much higher than they currently are as the customer and business are entering a binding contract.

You may live in a perfect world where you can walk up to a rental car agency ready to pick up a car and suddenly decide you don't like their terms, or check into a hotel and upon discovering the minibar will charge you for removing an item go ask for your money back and find another hotel that same night, but the fact of the matter is these business know they've got you in a bind at that point and can basically do what they wish - in almost all cases, you'll be forced to sit there and take it.

Personally, I'm no frustrated with anything. I didn't even give an example of a personal experience in my original post because I know enough to read things beforehand and understand what I'm getting into. It's just a shame that many business goes well beyond reasonable territory with their fees and take advantage of those that don't have the foresight than you and I do.

I think you're giving business too much credit for being morally correct. Sure, they charge a lot of justifiable fees, but it seems that more and more, they're trying to hide charges here and there hoping no one will notice.

And I don't think my age or background has much of a factor in how well I understand these things.

 

[smokeyrabbit]

I don't think any part of my reply to you was condescending. Perhaps you're taking it a little too personally.

Right - implying that I and anyone sharing my opinion would not be in my right mind shouldn't be personal. Thanks for clarifying that.

You also bring up cell phone companies making small charges for canceling service. Small charges would be understandable, but in reality these fees start at around $200. That's several months service. Also, you'll see that I never used termination fees from cell phone companies as an example of nickel and diming because, frankly, I have no objection to them even if they were much higher than they currently are as the customer and business are entering a binding contract.

If you'll go back and read my reply, as you appear fond of repeating, you'll see that you misread this bit, too. I never mentioned termination fees. I am referring to your post quoted in your original reply.

[

You may live in a perfect world where you can walk up to a rental car agency ready to pick up a car and suddenly decide you don't like their terms, or check into a hotel and upon discovering the minibar will charge you for removing an item go ask for your money back and find another hotel that same night, but the fact of the matter is these business know they've got you in a bind at that point and can basically do what they wish - in almost all cases, you'll be forced to sit there and take it.

Ah, the "you may live in a perfect world" ploy. I am not saying that you or most people don't have the right to complain, I am simply pointing out that as a consumer in a non-communist state, you actually do have some choice in your purchasing decisions. Also, how hard would it be to ask the front desk person if the mini-bar has items with nuts in them. I bet they have a list (probably in your actual room) of the inventory of each mini-bar, with nutritional information available for guests' perusal if requested. For that example, there isn't a reason to open the door unless you are planning on eating something.

I think you're giving business too much credit for being morally correct. Sure, they charge a lot of justifiable fees, but it seems that more and more, they're trying to hide charges here and there hoping no one will notice.

Where have I said that any business decision is ever based on a moral reason? They aren't. If they appear to be it's just marketing. That's not to say that moral decisions can't be profitable, of course. And I do agree that they hide the fees as much as possible. That just makes sen$e.

And I don't think my age or background has much of a factor in how well I understand these things.

I will apologize for the implied dig in that remark. For most people, age and background constitutes experience, and I just guessed that you haven't run a company with your stated age and occupation - which I realize is probably fake anyway

Anyway, arguing on the internet is like the sp... My point was really trying to say that most of the fees that people mentioned weren't "strange" to my viewpoint. Maybe I should have said that first. It stinks that you have to pay them, but they don't strike me as strange, except the volunteer toilet fee plate in Amsterdam. Ha.

 

[Eric Lewis]

ticketmaster

29 + 6.50 fee + 4.50 fee = 40? for one ticket!

 

[EricNau]

Anyone ever looked at the fees on a new car? Ridiculous, some of them. E.g. "Additional Dealer Markup," "Dealer Interest Fee," "Dealer Prep," "Drive off Deposit," the list goes on...

 

[ErikCLDR]

I went to a gas station last week. $3.45/gal if you pay with cash, $3.55/gal if you pay with credit card. It was a pretty fancy gas station too.

I've never seen that before. To me it seems easier if people pay with credit cards.

 

[EricNau]

I went to a gas station last week. $3.45/gal if you pay with cash, $3.55/gal if you pay with credit card. It was a pretty fancy gas station too.

I've never seen that before. To me it seems easier if people pay with credit cards.

I've seen that before, usually along large interstates in the middle of nowhere, i.e. when you only have your credit card, and no other options.

 

[PlaceofDis]

I went to a gas station last week. $3.45/gal if you pay with cash, $3.55/gal if you pay with credit card. It was a pretty fancy gas station too.

I've never seen that before. To me it seems easier if people pay with credit cards.

it actually costs businesses more money to process credit cards, so the smaller the type of place (ie small business owner, the worse off they are taking small credit card purchases or cc purchases on things that have small profit) due to the fees of processing the card, its outrageous what they can charge the owner sometime

 

[Rodimus Prime]

I went to a gas station last week. $3.45/gal if you pay with cash, $3.55/gal if you pay with credit card. It was a pretty fancy gas station too.

I've never seen that before. To me it seems easier if people pay with credit cards.

it actually costs businesses more money to process credit cards, so the smaller the type of place (ie small business owner, the worse off they are taking small credit card purchases or cc purchases on things that have small profit) due to the fees of processing the card, its outrageous what they can charge the owner sometime

I have read that most of the time credit card companies do not allow them to do that. They have to charge the same for cash and credit.

For me I refuse to go to those places because I pay everything by my credit card. I do not carry much cash at all.

 

[adk]

I have read that most of the time credit card companies do not allow them to do that. They have to charge the same for cash and credit.

For me I refuse to go to those places because I pay everything by my credit card. I do not carry much cash at all.

I'm sure it's worded that the lower cash price is a cash discount, which is allowed by visa, mastercard, etc. Retailers run into trouble when they try to call it a credit card surcharge.

 

[PlaceofDis]

I have read that most of the time credit card companies do not allow them to do that. They have to charge the same for cash and credit.

For me I refuse to go to those places because I pay everything by my credit card. I do not carry much cash at all.

they're allowed to do so for discounts afaik, but they're not allowed to say no to purchases under a certain amount, although many try and say no cc purchases under $5/$10, which is typically against the cc companies rules from what i understand of the situation, but i could be wrong.

 

[ErikCLDR]

I know that it does cost more for companies because there is a fee for processing the credit cards, but say if you were to buy 20 gallons of gas. Thats $2 in processing fees and I can't imagine it costs that much per transaction.