FTC lays out new rule that could end hidden fees | The agency is proposing a new rule that could require businesses, from hotels to ticket sellers, to provide clear disclosures on costs and whether…::The US Federal Trade Commission is proposing a new rule known as the Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees that it hopes will stop businesses from charging consumers hidden fees.

    • phillaholic
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      It’s not an issue of can or can’t, it’s an issue of the consumer not knowing why a Milky Way is $1.07 vs a Twix at $1.00. On the receipt they can see one is taxed and the other is not.

      • GreyBeard@lemmy.one
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        Does that matter to the consumer? Shouldn’t they know that a Milky Way cost 7 cents more than a Twix when picking their candy?

        • phillaholic
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          Shouldn’t they know why? Does it just cost more or is it because the government is doing it?

      • eric@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        No one’s saying you don’t show the tax on the receipt. It’s not like no one has figured it out yet.

        The EU requires tax to be included in prices displayed to customers, and each country has their own specific country regional and local tax codes. They manage just fine, so can the US.

        • phillaholic
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          The VAT rate doesn’t change inside each country does it? The US doesn’t have VAT, and the federal government doesn’t have sales or use tax.

          • eric@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            1 year ago

            Yes VAT does change from country to country. Also VAT is more complex than sales tax in that it is applied to various consumer goods as well as some services.

            • phillaholic
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              1 year ago

              inside each country. For example is there a different VAT in Paris than Cannes?

              • eric@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                edit-2
                1 year ago

                That doesn’t actually matter. You are making excuses for why the tax system is too complicated to include tax, and I’m telling you they’ve already solved the issues of different tax rates across one currency. In the EU, where most counties share the same currency, companies are required to include tax in the displayed price and show the customer how much of the purchase is tax.

                I work with Point of Sale companies and know this problem is solved. It is not too difficult to achieve from a technical or practical perspective, so you’ll have to dig up some other reason this is somehow unachievable.

                • phillaholic
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  arrow-down
                  1
                  ·
                  1 year ago

                  I’m not making excuses, I’m explaining how it’s complex and isn’t something you can’t snap your fingers and resolve. If you want to start a movement to change it, I’m not going to stand in your way. It doesn’t matter to me either way.