Why “junk fees” are under fire
Across ticketing, travel, and accommodation, regulators are pushing back against “junk fees” – the hidden charges that only appear at the final checkout step. For fans, the frustration is simple: the first price looks great, the final price does not.
In the United States, this has led to a formal Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, often called the FTC Junk Fees Rule, which specifically covers live‑event tickets and short‑term lodging. Even though Ticket Deals focuses on the UK and Europe, the principles behind that rule – honest totals, clear fees, no bait‑and‑switch – are the same priorities guiding how Ticket Deals approaches pricing.
If you want to see how the US is handling junk fees, you can read:
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Official rule text in the Federal Register
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FTC’s rule hub and FAQs on unfair or deceptive fees
- https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/rulemaking-unfair-or-deceptive-feesftc+1
- https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/rule-unfair-or-deceptive-fees-frequently-asked-questionsftc
What the FTC Junk Fees Rule actually says (in brief)
While the FTC rule is US‑specific, it is a useful reference point for any ticket marketplace that cares about transparency. At its core:
- It is an unfair or deceptive practice to offer, display, or advertise the price of live‑event tickets without clearly and prominently showing the total price – including all mandatory fees – from the start.
- Businesses cannot misrepresent fees, including their nature, purpose, amount, or refundability, or use misleading labels that make mandatory fees look optional or trivial.
- The rule targets “drip pricing” and bait‑and‑switch tactics that obscure the true cost until late in the process, requiring the total price to be more prominent than partial prices in most advertising and on‑site displays.
For more detailed breakdowns, you can see legal and payments industry explainers here:
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JCA overview for live‑event ticketing
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Intellipay summary of the rule and penalties
https://intellipay.com/ftcs-rule-on-unfair-and-deceptive-fee/intellipay
Ticket Deals is aligning with this direction of travel: less fine print, more up‑front honesty in how prices are presented, even as EU and UK regulators continue their own work on digital and consumer rights.
How Ticket Deals is approaching transparent pricing
Ticket Deals is a marketplace for live events across the UK and Europe, with a focus on making tickets affordable and easy to find rather than confusing or opaque. The company’s pricing approach leans into three core principles inspired by junk‑fee regulation, even where that regulation is outside its home region.
1. Putting the real price front and centre
When you browse events on Ticket Deals – whether that is a Premier League match, a West End show, or a major concert – the goal is that the main price you see is the meaningful number, not a teaser that changes dramatically later.
- The headline price is designed to reflect what you will actually pay for that ticket, with mandatory fees clearly factored in and explained.
- Any breakdown of base price plus fees is there to help you understand the structure, not to hide charges behind a low headline number.
You can see this in action when exploring specific event listings such as “Music and Magic” on Ticket Deals: https://www.ticketdeals.org/performers/music-and-magic
2. Clear, plain‑language fee descriptions
Ticket Deals focuses on using straightforward language to explain fees, avoiding jargon or labels that make costs look smaller or less important than they are.
- If a fee is mandatory to complete the purchase, it is treated and presented as part of the real cost of the ticket.
- Optional extras – like upgrades, insurance, or specific delivery choices – are clearly distinguished as add‑ons, not disguised requirements.
That approach mirrors the FTC’s emphasis on not misrepresenting the nature or purpose of fees, even though Ticket Deals operates in a different regulatory environment.
3. Consistency from selection to checkout
Fans should not have to watch the price creep up with each click. Ticket Deals works to keep pricing consistent across event list pages, event detail pages, and the checkout steps, so you can follow the numbers without surprises.
- The total you expect from the event page should match what you see at checkout, once you factor in any clearly chosen add‑ons.
- If new costs appear, they are explained before payment, not hidden until after you have committed.
This is exactly the kind of pattern the FTC rule pushes for in the US and it is equally relevant to UK and European fans who are simply trying to understand what they are paying.
Practical tips: how to avoid junk‑fee pain when buying tickets
Even with better rules and better platforms, smart buying behaviour still matters. Here are practical habits that help you get real value, whether on Ticket Deals or any other site.
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Look at the final total, not just the starting price. Always compare what you will actually pay at the end of checkout, not just the first price shown on a list of events.
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Distinguish mandatory fees from optional extras. If you must pay it to complete the purchase, treat it as part of the real ticket price. True extras should be clearly marked and easy to accept or decline.
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Watch out for “drip pricing” behaviour. If the price keeps climbing as you move through the flow, with new fees appearing late in the process, that is a red flag the FTC rule is designed to ban in covered markets.
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Check refund, exchange, and cancellation terms. For big events or travel‑heavy plans, make sure you understand what happens if a show is postponed, cancelled, or you can no longer attend.
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Use genuine deals, not gimmicks. Discounts and promo codes are great when they apply to clear, honest prices. Be cautious of offers that seem generous but are layered on top of confusing fee structures.
FAQs: Junk fees, the FTC rule, and Ticket Deals
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What are “junk fees” in ticketing?
Junk fees” are hidden or misleading charges that are not obvious when you first see the price of a ticket but appear later in checkout, making the real cost significantly higher than the advertised price.
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Does the FTC Junk Fees Rule apply to Ticket Deals?
The FTC Junk Fees Rule is a United States regulation, focused on businesses offering live‑event tickets and short‑term lodging to consumers there. Ticket Deals primarily serves the UK and European markets, but it is taking cues from this rule to align with global best practices for transparency.
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How is Ticket Deals changing the way it shows prices?
Ticket Deals is working to ensure that the primary ticket price you see reflects the meaningful total, with mandatory fees clearly included and explained, and that pricing stays consistent from selection through checkout.
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Are all fees included in the first price I see on Ticket Deals?
The aim is that required platform or service charges are reflected in the headline pricing, while any additional taxes or delivery‑related costs are surfaced and explained before you pay.
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Where can I read more about the FTC’s rule on junk fees?
You can review the official and explanatory resources here:
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Full rule text in the Federal Register
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FTC rule overview and legal resources
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How can I find good deals on Ticket Deals without getting caught by fees?
Start from the Ticket Deals homepage at https://www.ticketdeals.org, pick your event, and pay attention to the total shown before payment. Combine that with the checklist above – especially comparing end‑of‑checkout totals – to make sure the deal you see is the deal you actually get.