FTC Bans Hidden Junk Fees in Hotel, Ticket, and Rental Pricing
The FTC implemented a rule requiring hotels, ticketing, and short-term rental companies to display total prices including all fees upfront, saving consumers an estimated \$11 billion over 10 years and 53 million hours annually, effective 120 days after announcement.
FTC Bans Hidden Junk Fees in Hotel, Ticket, and Rental Pricing
The FTC implemented a rule requiring hotels, ticketing, and short-term rental companies to display total prices including all fees upfront, saving consumers an estimated \$11 billion over 10 years and 53 million hours annually, effective 120 days after announcement.
Progress
44% Bias Score
Pensioner's Electricity Bill Inflated by 925% Due to Meter Reading Error
A 71-year-old County Londonderry pensioner's electricity bill showed a 925% increase and £1,003 in arrears due to an incorrect meter reading submitted by NIE Networks in August 2024; SSE Airtricity will issue a corrected bill.
Pensioner's Electricity Bill Inflated by 925% Due to Meter Reading Error
A 71-year-old County Londonderry pensioner's electricity bill showed a 925% increase and £1,003 in arrears due to an incorrect meter reading submitted by NIE Networks in August 2024; SSE Airtricity will issue a corrected bill.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Grubhub to Pay $25 Million for Misleading Customers and Drivers
Grubhub will pay $25 million to settle FTC and Illinois Attorney General charges of misleading customers about delivery costs and drivers about earnings, falsely advertising restaurants, and employing deceptive pricing tactics; the company denies the allegations but will make operational changes.
Grubhub to Pay $25 Million for Misleading Customers and Drivers
Grubhub will pay $25 million to settle FTC and Illinois Attorney General charges of misleading customers about delivery costs and drivers about earnings, falsely advertising restaurants, and employing deceptive pricing tactics; the company denies the allegations but will make operational changes.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Parisian Rental Scam Highlights Booking.com Vulnerability
A 23-year-old Parisian job seeker, Judith C., was nearly scammed out of \u20ac1,650 by a fraudulent rental listing that appeared legitimate due to the use of Booking.com; however, Booking.com confirmed that the listing was not theirs.
Parisian Rental Scam Highlights Booking.com Vulnerability
A 23-year-old Parisian job seeker, Judith C., was nearly scammed out of \u20ac1,650 by a fraudulent rental listing that appeared legitimate due to the use of Booking.com; however, Booking.com confirmed that the listing was not theirs.
Progress
44% Bias Score
France Destroys 225,000 Non-Compliant Toys in 2023
French authorities destroyed over 225,000 unsafe toys in 2023, a rise from 2022, with online marketplaces showing the most significant issues; dangers included small parts and accessible stuffing in toys.
France Destroys 225,000 Non-Compliant Toys in 2023
French authorities destroyed over 225,000 unsafe toys in 2023, a rise from 2022, with online marketplaces showing the most significant issues; dangers included small parts and accessible stuffing in toys.
Progress
24% Bias Score
CFPB Overdraft Rule Caps Fees, Reshapes Banking
The CFPB's new overdraft rule, effective October 1, 2025, will cap overdraft fees at $5 or require cost-based fees or loan treatment for banks over $10 billion in assets, potentially saving consumers $5 billion annually.
CFPB Overdraft Rule Caps Fees, Reshapes Banking
The CFPB's new overdraft rule, effective October 1, 2025, will cap overdraft fees at $5 or require cost-based fees or loan treatment for banks over $10 billion in assets, potentially saving consumers $5 billion annually.
Progress
40% Bias Score
French Appliance Makers Fined €611 Million for Price-Fixing
French competition authorities fined ten appliance makers and two distributors, Darty and Boulanger, €611 million for a price-fixing cartel between 2007 and 2014, using tactics like restricting online sales and coded price agreements to harm online competition and maintain higher consumer prices.
French Appliance Makers Fined €611 Million for Price-Fixing
French competition authorities fined ten appliance makers and two distributors, Darty and Boulanger, €611 million for a price-fixing cartel between 2007 and 2014, using tactics like restricting online sales and coded price agreements to harm online competition and maintain higher consumer prices.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Rogue Builder Jailed for £1.6m Home Improvement Fraud
A West Midlands rogue builder, Adam Jones, was jailed for three years and nine months for defrauding homeowners of £1.6 million through Advannnced Construction Ltd. between April 2021 and June 2023; he used their payments to fund a lavish lifestyle, leaving victims with incomplete or defective work.
Rogue Builder Jailed for £1.6m Home Improvement Fraud
A West Midlands rogue builder, Adam Jones, was jailed for three years and nine months for defrauding homeowners of £1.6 million through Advannnced Construction Ltd. between April 2021 and June 2023; he used their payments to fund a lavish lifestyle, leaving victims with incomplete or defective work.
Progress
36% Bias Score
Spanish Ministry Sanctions Tourist Apartment Platform for Unlicensed Listings
The Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs launched a sanctioning procedure against a tourist apartment platform for failing to remove thousands of unlicensed property listings despite a prior request to do so, potentially facing fines up to \u20ac100,000 or more.
Spanish Ministry Sanctions Tourist Apartment Platform for Unlicensed Listings
The Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs launched a sanctioning procedure against a tourist apartment platform for failing to remove thousands of unlicensed property listings despite a prior request to do so, potentially facing fines up to \u20ac100,000 or more.
Progress
24% Bias Score
Grubhub to Pay $25 Million to Settle Deceptive Practices Allegations
Grubhub will pay $25 million to settle allegations of deceptive business practices, including misleading customers about costs, deceiving drivers, and listing restaurants without consent; the company denies wrongdoing but will make platform changes and remove unaffiliated restaurants.
Grubhub to Pay $25 Million to Settle Deceptive Practices Allegations
Grubhub will pay $25 million to settle allegations of deceptive business practices, including misleading customers about costs, deceiving drivers, and listing restaurants without consent; the company denies wrongdoing but will make platform changes and remove unaffiliated restaurants.
Progress
44% Bias Score
Ofgem Mandates Fee-Free Energy Tariffs in UK
The UK energy regulator Ofgem mandates that all energy companies must offer tariffs without standing charges by next winter, aiming to address the \u00a33.8 billion household energy debt crisis and concerns about the fees' disproportionate impact on low-income households.
Ofgem Mandates Fee-Free Energy Tariffs in UK
The UK energy regulator Ofgem mandates that all energy companies must offer tariffs without standing charges by next winter, aiming to address the \u00a33.8 billion household energy debt crisis and concerns about the fees' disproportionate impact on low-income households.
Progress
44% Bias Score
New Overdraft Fee Rule Caps Charges at $5, Targets $5 Billion in Annual Savings
The Biden administration finalized a rule limiting overdraft fees banks can charge, aiming to save consumers roughly $5 billion annually; the rule, set to take effect in October 2025, applies to banks with over $10 billion in assets and is projected to save households $225 per year.
New Overdraft Fee Rule Caps Charges at $5, Targets $5 Billion in Annual Savings
The Biden administration finalized a rule limiting overdraft fees banks can charge, aiming to save consumers roughly $5 billion annually; the rule, set to take effect in October 2025, applies to banks with over $10 billion in assets and is projected to save households $225 per year.
Progress
40% Bias Score