Unbelievable Charges: Examining the Top 10 Absurd Costs (and Ways to Evade Them)
Feeling like companies are sneakily draining your wallet with processing and hidden fees? It's frustrating, right? Even if it's just a few dollars here and there, it's the principle that's annoying. But fear not! Here are some common fees that are driving us insane and how to circumvent them.
Concert Ticket "services"
Recently, it feels like concert ticketing services have turned into a money-grabbing machine. Whether it's from secondary sellers like StubHub and Vivid Seats or primary sellers like Ticketmaster, AXS, and SeatGeek, those pesky transaction fees are infuriating. Luckily, Ticketmaster has faced some backlash for their lack of transparency and has been hit with several class-action lawsuits.
Solutions:
- Discount sites - Check out discount sites like TickPick or Goldstar.com to find some tickets with fewer fees.
- Old-school approach - The only way to fully dodge the "convenience" fee of online transactions is to go back in time and purchase your tickets in person at the box office. It's a hassle, but it'll save you a buck or two.
Airbnb fees
Alongside the cost of concert tickets, Airbnb has gained notoriety for its sneaky fees. I mean, come on, a $99/night listing that ends up costing $414 after fees and taxes? Sounds like a scam, but according to some consumers, it's business as usual.
Solutions:
- Secondary searching - After you find a listing on Airbnb, try searching for the property description on other sites to find offerings without Airbnb's fees.
- Direct communication - Reach out to the host directly and negotiate to conduct business outside of Airbnb to avoid those pesky fees.
Airline seat selection fees
Paying an additional $20 for a seat? Isn't that what the ticket price is for in the first place? During the booking process, it's not always clear that the seat selection fee is optional.
Solution:
- Skip the selection - During booking, skip the seat selection option when it pops up. The airline will automatically assign you a seat for free.
ATM fees
I love ATMs. Until I get slapped with a $3 fee for withdrawing my own money, that is. It's like the banks don't even care about my financial woes.
Solutions:
- Bank ATMs - Ideally, use an ATM owned by the bank you use to avoid fees.
- Fee-refunding banks - Consider moving your money to a bank that will refund these fees.
- Opt for cash back - When grocery shopping, use the cash back option to have fee-free cash readily available.
Car dealership fees
If there's someone you can trust to be upfront about their fees, it's a car salesman, right? Well, apparently not. From advertising fees to delivery fees, it's easy to get lost in all the extra charges that come with buying a new car at a dealership.
Solutions:
- Factory invoice - Review the factory invoice and ensure all charges listed are legitimate.
- Negotiate - Ask the dealer to remove any unnecessary fees.
Gym initiation fees
Getting a gym membership is excellent, but getting hit with an "initiation" fee? Not so much. At least try to negotiate and see if the gym will waive this fee or make it a condition of a longer membership.
Credit reports
Checking your credit score should be free, right? But sometimes these credit report services can put you in a bind with hidden fees. Luckily, there are free services like AnnualCreditReport.com that don't require a dime.
Overdraft fees
Overdraft protection sounds great, but at what cost? Setting up overdraft protection with your bank can result in a hefty charge even if the amount is minimal.
Solutions:
- Set up overdraft protection with a savings account instead to avoid paying high fees.
- Set low-balance alerts to avoid overdrafts altogether.
Bank statement fees
Receiving a paper bank statement might seem like a small luxury, but why should it cost you money? Going paperless is a simple solution to avoid these fees.
Online shipping fees
Online shopping can be great, but those shipping fees can quickly add up. Try to consolidate orders or seek out services like Amazon Prime or Walmart+ for free shipping options.
[1] Source: Enrichment data
By following these tips and strategies, you'll have a much better chance of avoiding those annoying hidden fees and saving some dough.
- To avoid paying additional fees when purchasing concert tickets, you might consider using discount sites like TickPick or Goldstar.com, which often offer tickets with fewer fees compared to primary sellers.
- If you're looking to save money on Airbnb bookings, consider searching for the property description on other websites after finding a listing on Airbnb, or negotiate directly with the host to conduct business outside of Airbnb's platform.
- If you want to avoid paying ATM fees, it's best to use an ATM owned by your bank or one that offers fee-refunding, or opt for the cash back option when grocery shopping to avoid paying fees.
){kind=link}