This summer, we are working with the White House to highlight the voices of Americans who were hit by surprise fees -- including when buying concert tickets like Taylor Swift.
If you were hit by a surprise concert ticket fee, can you tell us your story here?
If you know a friend that went to a Taylor Swift concert (and therefore paid the fee), or another concert recently, can you share this link with them to tell their story about surprise fees?
Here are some recent headlines about this issue:
MarketWatch: 'My daughter will be disappointed if I don't take her to Taylor Swift': White House targets junk fees — but why do we pay them?
CBC: White House on Taylor Swift Ticketmaster debacle: Capitalism without competition is exploitation
USA Today: Biden muscles Ticketmaster, SeatGeek to scrap hidden ticket fees after Taylor Swift debacle
The good news is that public pressure is working.
By shining the spotlight on this issue, the White House has gotten some companies to un-hide their fees. However, big monopolies like Ticketmaster can still charge those fees (in their up-front pricing instead of tacking it on at check out) due to lack of competition. So there is more work to be done.
In addition, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Transportation Department, and Federal Trade Commission (all under new leadership in recent years) are fighting fees by banks, airlines, and other corporations. And members of Congress like Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) have legislation that would go even further.
Thanks for being a concerned consumer.
-- Adam Green, Progressive Change co-founder (@AdamGreen)
Chip in to our fight against junk fees here.
We're working to endorse and support hundreds of progressive candidates this cycle.
Make a monthly donation to sustain this work through the election.
FOLLOW US: