We are, too! We think the price that you agree to pay over the phone or online should be the price you should be charged, not a starting bid for the hotel to add fees to after you have checked in. If they are going to charge an extra $25 “resort fee”, we believe that should be reflected in the posted price. Not, “extra fees may apply” in small writing at the bottom of the advertisement. Evidently, we are not alone, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently found that hotels charging mandatory “resort fees” at the time of checkout may be violating the law by misrepresenting the price consumers can expect to pay for their hotel room.
Below is information regarding recent litigation involving Orbitz.com and this very issue.
“The plaintiffs in the Lawsuit allege that Orbitz failed to disclose adequately to consumers who booked hotel accommodations using Orbitz’s website or 800 number that the “Total cost” or “Total price” that the consumers were required to pay at the time of reservation did not include mandatory hotel fees and taxes that they were required to pay to the hotels at the time of their stays. The Court has ordered that the Lawsuit may proceed as a class action on behalf of two classes: (1) consumers who paid undisclosed mandatory hotel fees or taxes to Marriott brand hotels in connection with hotel stays booked and paid for through Orbitz between January 1, 2003 and June 4, 2010 (the “Orbitz/Marriott Class”); and (2) consumers who paid undisclosed mandatory hotel fees or taxes to Starwood brand hotels in connection with hotel stays booked and paid for through Orbitz between January 1, 2003 and December 18, 2009 (the “Orbitz/Starwood Class”).
If you have paid a “resort fee” at any hotel or resort we would like to hear from you to determine if the “resort fee” was disclosed at the time of booking, and also to determine how many people paid these fees. Please contact our office, The Law Office of Todd M. Friedman at (877) 449-8898 today.
