A new disclosure rule on so-called “junk fees” and bait-and-switch pricing associated with live-ticket events and short-term rentals, such as those offered by Ticketmaster, Airbnb, and VRBO, took effect on May 12.
Formally known as the Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) junk fee rules require that any mandatory fees be disclosed upfront, except for taxes or shipping charges. The new rule was approved by a 4–1 vote on Dec. 24, 2024, by the five-member FTC board, which included two Democratic commissioners who have since been fired by President Donald Trump.
