WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 President Joe Biden highlighted progress in chipping away at hidden junk fees tacked on to ticket, lodging and other prices as a 鈥渨in for consumers鈥 as major company executives meeting with him at the White House announced they'll start showing customers the real cost up front.
Live Nation, which is based in Beverly Hills, California, said Thursday that it will provide customers with upfront all-in pricing 鈥 meaning the actual purchase price including service charges and any other fees 鈥 for its owned venues by September and that Ticketmaster will give consumers the option to view all-in pricing up front for other venues on the live-entertainment tickets platform. SeatGeek, based in New York, will unveil features to make it easier to browse for tickets with the true cost displayed.
Biden, who met with those and other companies that have taken steps to embrace more transparency, including Airbnb, prioritized the effort to combat in his and has called for legislation, regulation and private sector action to end them. The Democratic president, at Thursday's event, praised actions by companies that have eliminated or plan to eliminate those surprise fees.
The consumer advocacy push is part of Biden's pitch to voters in his that government can help improve their lives in big and small ways.
Besides the moves by Live Nation and SeatGeek, San Francisco-based Airbnb rolled out its all-in pricing tool in December, after Biden first called on companies to stop hiding fees.
鈥淭hese are just the latest private sector leaders who are responding to my call to action," Biden said, saying junk fees "can add hundreds of dollars a month and make it harder for families to pay their bills.鈥
鈥淚鈥檓 asking their competitors to follow suit and adopt an all-in pricing as well," Biden said. 鈥淭hese actions matter and it鈥檚 inspiring companies to change their practices."
好色tv Economic Council director Lael Brainard said in a statement that the president 鈥渉as been working to lower costs for hardworking families by bringing down inflation, capping insulin prices for seniors, and eliminating hidden junk fees.鈥
"More companies are heeding the President鈥檚 call so that Americans know what they鈥檙e paying for up front and can save money as a result,鈥 Brainard said.
