Hidden charges on everyday things

[Turbodick]

I'm getting sick of extra charges that aren't mentioned when you originally order something (or are mentioned in very small print). For instance today I picked up a blazer at the dry cleaner and there was an extra "environmental charge" added.

I recently stayed at a hotel (not in MTL) that had a "destination marketing fee" of about 2.5 per cent tacked on to the bill by the city.

Getting your oil changed? Add a few bucks for oil disposal.

A recent flight to Rome on Air Canada while advertised at only $199 was subject to a "fuel surcharge" of over $200.

I get charged a "delivery fee" for natural gas and then get charged for the natural gas. I also get charged a "customer fee" (about $10 a month) by the same gas company.

I recently saw an SP (not in MTL) who hinted that FS would cost extra.
Of course I was ready to escort her ass out free of charge.

So what are the charges you think are kind of sneaky?

 

[montreal_monk01]

I recently saw an SP (not in MTL) who hinted that FS would cost extra.

lol...I know you won't see that with agencies known here on Merb, but I remember in 1994 (in Mtl) having called an Escort agency (that I found in the yellow pages) and asked them for a lady. The agency made sure that I understood that the lady would not have sex with me and would serve as a companion..and they wanted to know where I wanted to be escorted (theater, Cinema, night club..etc). And the price was $250/h. Of course, I turned the offer down.

 

[IamNY]

I went to a local NY bar that has 10 cent wings. After spending about $100 on beer and $10 on wings they had the balls to charge the bill with a 20% gratuity fee. We were 3 people, I have seen this with large groups of people, but with only 3 people? I asked why it was on the bill and they told me that since the wings were only 10 cents they automatically put on a 20% tip. I normally tip more than 20%, but on this occasion I told them to go scratch and left the standard 15%. Yes, a difference of a couple of dollars, but I tip in relation to the quality of the service, not because some asshole tells me to do it!

 

[jacep]

they had the balls to charge the bill with a 20% gratuity fee. We were 3 people, I have seen this with large groups of people, but with only 3 people?

I've seen this happen also. I've seen it happen in Montreal with large groups of people (it is mentioned on the menu). I've also seen it happen in Las Vegas (although it was not mentioned until the table received their bill). However, both these times, it was 15%.

 

[jacep]

In terms of "hidden" charges, let's not forget the "system access fee" for Canadian cellphone service.

You pay $25/month for a monthly cellphone package. The cellphone companies then tack on around $7.00 for the system access fee, around $1.00 for 911 service fee, etc. Why don't they just say that the package is $25+$7+$1=$33/month?

On a somewhat related note, the system access fee is not a government imposed fee. It is a fee that the cellphone companies impose on clients.

This doesn't include the optional services of voice mail, caller ID display, etc.

 

[Dee]

On a somewhat related note, the system access fee is not a government imposed fee. It is a fee that the cellphone companies impose on clients.

And it doesn't cost the cell companies anything to use the 911... the costs are borne by the land line providers.....

 

[rollingstone]

My cable company kept sneaking in all these additional charges until my cable (TV& internet) costs reached $175 a month. I finally had it and called them up and complained. They knocked it down to $135.

When it comes to hobbying, I never had a an SP try to upsell me, thanks in no small part to reviewers on this board. But there are always incidental expenses like you have on any trip, such as alcohol and other amenities one provides during these encounters and are simply a small investment to ensure one gets the most out of his sessions.

 

[mtwallet]

The Quebec government charges their provincial sales tax on your purchase AFTER they factor in the federal sales tax. Taxing a tax. Illegal as far as I know. Factor in the extra pennies on every single thing you buy in a year and...Damn what a rip off!

 

[hungry101]

And an extra $40 to COF!

 

[chowhound]

A couple of years ago I ordered computer checks to use with my accounting software from a reputable company which I had purchased the same checks from in the past. I was ordering from the company's online catalog and went through the order process. At the end of the transaction the company tacked on a "security fee" for the stated purpose of taking steps to verify the account information to protect me from possible fraud. This was not optional. I believe that the fee should be part of the advertised price of the checks. I suppose they may do this to reduce sales tax on the transaction, but still, I thought the company should be upfront with the charge, so I could shop for checks using accurate information as to the total price. (Maybe they are learning from the business practices of Air Canada!) I no longer do business with the company.

 

[oobe]

It's perfectly legal. Read the Quebec Sales Tax Act; it provides for the tax on tax.

Or you can just think of it as a 7.875% tax instead of the advertised 7.5.
The irony is that the reduced federal tax actually means they collect 7.875 instead of the 8.025 they used to, so taxing the tax actually has drawbacks for them in the end.

 

[joelcairo]

Or you can just think of it as a 7.875% tax instead of the advertised 7.5.
The irony is that the reduced federal tax actually means they collect 7.875 instead of the 8.025 they used to, so taxing the tax actually has drawbacks for them in the end.

Hardly surprising: these imbeciles screw up everything they do.