On December 17, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) released its final Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, also called the “Junk Fees Rule” by the Commission. For companies involved in...more
Wednesday saw the release of CA Attorney General Bob Bonta’s long-awaited FAQs on the California “junk fee” ban, now rebranded as the “Honest Pricing Law” or “Hidden Fees Statute.” The FAQs largely reiterate the very...more
The tip wars between hospitality employers and employees continue unabated. Numerous lawsuits contend that restaurants and other employers wrongfully retain or require sharing of customer gratuities, as well as violate Fair...more
Hospitality employers in California beware. Effective July 1, 2024, California’s Junk Fee Ban (SB 478) will go into effect, making it unlawful to advertise, display or offer a price for a good or service that does not...more
On October 11, 2023, the FTC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Request for Public Comment titled “Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees” (the Proposed Rule). The FTC said the Proposed Rule “would prohibit...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a new rule aimed at eliminating certain "hidden" and "junk" fee practices. The FTC said that these fees, which may be undisclosed until late in the transaction process, are...more
Back in 2019, I posted about the difference between a Service Charge, an Automatic Gratuity, and a Gratuity/Tip. I explained that a service charge is typically a set amount added to a guest check in lieu of a tip. An...more
On March 18, 2022, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Compere v. Nusret Miami, LLC, a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), that Nusr-et Steakhouse properly used automatically charged fees...more
The FCC has issued a Declaratory Ruling in response to a petition filed by parties involved in litigation over a billing dispute, declaring that unclear billing information violates the FCC’s Truth-in-Billing rules and the...more
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) wants to limit the application of a new Call Report requirement for banks to include a breakdown of their income from service charges on consumer deposit accounts. ...more