For decades, companies like airlines, hotels, cable companies, banks, and automakers have been charging consumers unfair fees that inflate the advertised price of their services. It wasn’t until 2023 that the U.S. FTC decided to crack down on these fees. The auto industry, in particular, has been fighting the FTC’s proposal to eliminate “administrative fees” and other markups on cars. The FTC maintains that these fees only serve to benefit dealerships and confuse consumers. However, this battle is not limited to the auto industry. The cable industry is also fighting against the FTC and FCC’s plans to crack down on junk fees. This ongoing fight against regulatory efforts highlights the power and influence of well-funded corporations. The impending dismantling of Chevron by the Supreme Court further threatens regulatory authority and paves the way for corporations to challenge any undesirable regulatory decisions. Ultimately, the axing of Chevron will result in the erosion of consumer protections, environmental reforms, and public safety initiatives, handing more power to corporations. This threat to regulatory power should not be underestimated, and it will become increasingly evident in the coming years.
https://www.techdirt.com/2024/02/05/cable-companies-automakers-try-to-derail-ftc-fcc-quest-to-kill-misleading-fees/