NCL supports click-to-cancel legislation in Maryland Senate

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January 21, 2025

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, (202)- 207-2829

Washington, DC – Today, NCL submitted testimony in support of SB49 before a Thursday hearing in the Maryland Senate Finance Committee.

 

January 21, 2025

The Honorable Pamela Beidle, Chair
Senate Finance Committee
Maryland General Assembly
3 East Miller Senate Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401

RE: NCL support for SB 49 (Consumer Protection-Automatic Renewals)

Dear Chair Beidle,

On behalf of the National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization, I write to express our strong support for SB 49 (cross-filed with HB 107), a bill introduced by Senator Gile that would promote fairness in the marketplace for automatically renewing subscription contracts.^1 As an organization that has long championed consumer rights and the protection of vulnerable populations from unfair, abusive, and deceptive trade practices, we are pleased to see Maryland considering such important legislation. We urge the committee to favorably report the measure with amendments to strengthen the legislation even further.

The average consumer pays two-and-a-half times what they originally estimated on monthly subscriptions.^2 When an individual attempts to cancel an automatic renewal, they often encounter burdensome cancellation processes. One survey found that more than half of respondents
reported an average of three months to cancel unwanted recurring payments.^3 That same study discovered that 71% of individuals lost more than $600 a year in unwanted payments.

NCL has been an active supporter of auto-renewal protections in other jurisdictions, including at the Council of the District of Columbia^4 and the Federal Trade Commission,^5 where rules set clear guidelines for both the provision and cancellation of automatically renewing subscription contracts. These measures were designed to enhance transparency, prevent deceptive practices, and ensure that consumers are able to easily cancel such subscriptions without unnecessary obstacles or undue financial burdens. We believe that SB 49, which reflects many of these same principles, is a step in the right direction toward safeguarding Maryland consumers from exploitation through automatic renewal clauses that can trap them into paying for services they no longer wish to receive or did not realize they signed up for in the first place.

While the Federal Trade Commission has finalized its click-to-cancel rule to take effect nationwide,^6 the future of this federal regulation is uncertain as a new presidential administration and new majorities in Congress have the means to undo the critical consumer protection. Regardless of the federal regulation’s status, Maryland has the opportunity to enact even stronger protections for its citizens through SB 49.

Compared to the federal rule, Senator Gile’s legislation goes further in protecting Marylanders by requiring sellers to provide an annual notice to consumers enrolled in an autorenewal plan, clearly reminding them of the terms of the plan and the cancellation methods available. Additionally, SB 49 includes safeguards against free trial conversion traps, a provision that is absent in the federal regulation.

There are however a few improvements that the committee should implement to better protect Maryland consumers.

First, require sellers to obtain a separate consent solely for the automatically renewing piece of the product, apart from any other transaction. Consumers too often believe they are purchasing a product without knowing that they are signing up for a subscription. While the clear and conspicuous disclosures proposed in SB 49 will go a long way in reducing this unfair, abusive, and deceptive trade practice, requiring separate consent for the subscription should significantly reduce any remaining confusion.

Second, require sellers to provide a notice to consumers before each automatic and recurring payment. While the annual notice in the bill is commendable, providing the same reminder (including the terms of the plan, the amount to be charged, and the cancellation methods) before each recurring payment—whether they be annually, monthly, or similarly regular basis—would greatly lessen consumer harm.

Third, prohibit sellers from obtaining a consumer’s credit card information to begin a free trial. Too many dishonest businesses enroll consumers in free trial conversion traps, using pre-given credit card information and hidden consent for the conversion to a paid subscription. SB 49’s notice requirement before conversion should dissuade this practice, prohibiting sellers from requiring consumers to provide their credit card information to begin a free trial would eliminate this unfair, abusive, and deceptive practice entirely.

Lastly, remove the deferral to federal regulation in subsection E (lines 20 through 23 on page 5). SB 49 in its current form already includes a number of additional safeguards missing in the federal regulation. Allowing covered entities to escape their obligations under Maryland law as long as they adhere to the lesser requirements in the federal regulations would be unnecessarily self-limiting. The Federal Trade Commission itself included a deferral to the states in its regulation, stating in 16 CFR § 425.7

(a) In general. This part shall not be construed as superseding, altering, or affecting any State statute, regulation, order, or interpretation relating to negative option
requirements, except to the extent it is inconsistent with the provisions of this part, and then only to the extent of the inconsistency.

(b) Greater protection under State law. For purposes of this section, a State statute,
regulation, order, or interpretation is not inconsistent with the provisions of this part if it affords any consumer greater protection than provided under this part.^7

NCL applauds Senator Giles for her leadership on this issue and appreciates the committee’s work to protect Maryland consumers. By enacting SB 49, Maryland would join a growing list of states and localities working to curb the negative effects of automatic renewal schemes and ensure that businesses are held accountable for their marketing and contract practices. NCL supports SB 49 and urges the committee to strengthen the bill even further before favorably
reporting the measure.

Should you or your colleagues have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at your convenience.

 

Sincerely,

Eden Iscil
Senior Public Policy Manager
National Consumers League
edeni@nclnet.org

cc: The Honorable Antonio Hayes, Vice Chair, Senate Finance Committee
The Honorable Dawn Gile
The Honorable Andrew Prusk

 

1 “Consumer Protection – Automatic Renewals,” Maryland General Assembly, accessed January 21, 2025. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0049
2 “Subscription Service Statistics and Costs,” C+R Research, May 18, 2022. https://www.crresearch.com/blog/subscription-service-statistics-and-costs/
3 “Survey from Chase Reveals That Two-Thirds of Consumers Have Forgotten About At Least One Recurring Payment In The Last year,” Chase, April 1, 2021. https://media.chase.com/news/survey-from-chase-reveals
4 “D.C. Law 22-235. Structured Settlements and Automatic Renewal Protections Act of 2018,” Council of the District of Columbia, March 13, 2019. https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/22-235
5 “NCL welcomes FTC’s click-to-cancel rule,” National Consumers League, October 17, 2024. https://nclnet.org/ncl-welcomes-ftcs-click-to-cancel-rule/ 
6 “Federal Trade Commission Announces Final ‘Click-to-Cancel’ Rule Making It Easier for Consumers to End Recurring Subscriptions and Memberships,” Federal Trade Commission, October 16, 2024. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/10/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-click-cancel-rule-making-it-easier-consumers-end-recurring 
7 “Part 425—Rule Concerning Recurring Subscriptions and Other Negative Option Programs,” Code of Federal Regulations, January 16, 2025. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-425

 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org.

Protecting American Consumers: A Conversation with Sally Greenberg, CEO on Coffee with Ken

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 Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC –Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumer League (NCL), was recently the featured guest on Ken Biberaj’s Coffee with Ken. On Protecting American Consumers: A Conversation with Sally Greenberg, they discussed her extensive background in consumer advocacy, the history and monumental victories of NCL, and NCL’s top priorities for 2025 as a new administration is on the horizon.

“Consumer protection is a bipartisan issue – whether it is about protecting your kids, safeguarding your health, preventing fraud, or addressing junk fees,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “We can all agree on the importance of these issues.”

NCL played a critical role in shaping policies like the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Pure Food and Drugs Act of 1906, and today, Greenberg leads efforts to protect consumers in areas like fraud, airline transparency, food labeling, and alcohol labeling. Alcohol labeling continues to be a priority and has been an unmet consumer need for the last two decades. As a general matter, NCL prioritizes science-based information and it is fundamental to all NCL’s work.

Whether it is the ever-growing issue of fraud or endless junk fees, NCL is committed to bipartisan efforts to protect all consumers. How does NCL do it? “good data, good facts, relentless advocacy and working across the aisle.”

Watch the full episode here.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org

NCL urges timely action to require standardized alcohol content, nutrition and allergen labeling on beer, wine, and distilled spirits products

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, (202) 207-2829

Washington, DC – Having pressed the Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for over two decades to require alcohol labeling on beer, wine, and distilled spirits products, the National Consumers League today called for an expedited process to finalize and implement a new TTB rulemaking that will give consumers the same important facts about the content of an alcoholic beverage that is now is readily available on all other beverages, food products, and dietary supplements.

TTB’s rulemaking, published in the Federal Register on January 17, 2025, includes two proposed rules, both of which are necessary for the 62 percent of adult Americans who drink to make responsible drinking decisions. The first rule would require a standardized label, similar to the Nutrition Facts label commonplace on food and beverage products, that tells consumers the percentage of alcohol per volume, the alcohol content in fluid ounces, and the calories, carbohydrates, fat, and protein per serving. The second rule requires listing allergens in the alcoholic beverage, which is important to the 33 million people in the US who have at least one food allergy. Currently, manufacturers of TTB-regulated beer, wine, and distilled spirits are not required to declare the presence of major allergens which are used as ingredients or processing agents.

Noting that overconsumption of alcohol is a costly public health problem that has become much worse in recent years, as alcohol-related deaths have risen substantially, NCL stated that the proposed labeling rules are long overdue to protect the health and safety of the public. According to the latest estimates, alcohol accounts for 30 percent of all traffic crash fatalities in the US, is a source of empty calories that contribute to obesity, and excessive drinking increases the risk of liver disease, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, alcohol use disorders, certain cancers, and severe injuries.

“While NCL is pleased that TTB published these labeling rules, the agency has a long history of asking for public comments, holding listening sessions, and publishing proposed alcohol labeling rules that are never finalized,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s CEO. “This is why we are pressing for an expedited process, because the health and safety of the public is at stake.”

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org.

NCL celebrates landmark progress in ticket fee reform 

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December 18, 2024

Contact: National Consumers League – Lisa McDonald, lisam@nclnet.org, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) applauded Congress for including the bipartisan TICKET Act (S. 1303/H.R. 3950) in the year-end funding legislation. This marks a significant milestone in NCL’s decade-long fight to secure stronger consumer protections for live event fans. NCL looks forward to working with Congress and President Biden to see these landmark reforms signed into law.

The TICKET Act, backed by more than a dozen consumer and fan advocacy organizations and live event industry stakeholders, introduces key regulations to protect consumers, including:

  • Requiring all-in pricing to eliminate hidden fees.
  • Banning speculative ticketing and deceptive marketing practices.
  • Guaranteeing refunds for canceled or postponed events.
  • Mandating an FTC study on BOTS Act enforcement.

The following statement is attributable to John Breyault, NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud:

“Live event fans are one step closer to saying goodbye to hidden ticket fees that have frustrated consumers for decades. The TICKET Act will also end deceptive speculative ticket sales and ensure fans get their money back when events are canceled or postponed. These long-overdue reforms are a victory for consumers, and we thank congressional leaders for their commitment to making this law a reality.

Special thanks go to Senators Cantwell, Cruz, Klobuchar, and Schumer and Representatives McMorris Rodgers, Pallone, Schakowsky, Bilirakis, and the co-sponsors of S. 1303/H.R. 3950, whose dedication made this bipartisan consumer protection victory possible.”

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NCL hails FTC ban on hidden junk fees in ticketing and lodging

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December 17, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Lisa McDonald, lisam@nclnet.org, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC – Today, the FTC announced its final rule banning hidden junk fees in live-event ticketing and short-term lodging. NCL has long advocated for such a ban at the federal level and applauds the Commission for enacting this critical consumer protection regulation.

“Sellers in these industries can no longer lie to consumers to make a buck. The FTC’s final rule is a common-sense policy that will make the ticketing and lodging marketplaces fairer for everyone involved,” said NCL Vice President John Breyault. “The price that’s advertised is the price that you should pay.”

This single rule by the FTC will result in billions of dollars in savings for consumers. A non-partisan federal study of the ticketing industry found that primary and secondary ticket sellers charged fees averaging 27% and 31%, respectively, of the ticket’s price. Regarding lodging, the Council of Economic Advisers *estimated that consumers lose $3.3 billion annually to hotel junk fees.

Further reading:

2024 public comments of the National Consumers League and 51 other organizations supporting the FTC’s proposed rule to ban junk fees

2024 public comments of the Break Up Ticketmaster Coalition (NCL and 14 other organizations) supporting the FTC’s proposed rule

2023 testimony of NCL’s CEO before the United States Senate on the need to prohibit junk fees

2023 public comments of the National Consumers League and 41 other organizations supporting the FTC’s advanced notice of proposed rulemaking on junk fees

2022 public comments of the National Consumers League supporting a petition for rulemaking to ban drip pricing, which resulted in this final rule

2018 public comments of the National Consumers League and the Sports Fans Coalition urging FTC intervention in the ticketing industry

*Links are no longer active as the original sources have removed the content, sometimes due to federal website changes or restructurings

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About the National Consumers League (NCL) 

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL calls on Congress to include TICKET Act in continuing resolution

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December 16, 2024

National Consumers League Calls on Congress to Include TICKET Act in Continuing Resolution

Contact: National Consumers League – Lisa McDonald, lisam@nclnet.org, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL), America’s oldest consumer and worker advocacy organization, is urging Congress to include the bipartisan TICKET Act (H.R. 3950) in any Continuing Resolution (CR) passed this session. The TICKET Act represents the most significant live event ticketing reform in nearly a decade, addressing key concerns in the live event marketplace for all stakeholders.

Key provisions of the TICKET Act include:

  • Banning hidden fees through all-in pricing requirements.
  • Prohibiting speculative ticketing and other deceptive marketing practices.
  • Requiring refunds for canceled and postponed events.
  • Commissioning an FTC study on enforcement of the BOTS Act.

Earlier this year, the TICKET Act passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support (388–24) and gained endorsements from a broad coalition of stakeholders, including the, Consumer Reports, Artist Rights Alliance, Recording Academy, Live Nation/Ticketmaster (LNE), Coalition for Ticket Fairness, Vivid Seats, StubHub, and the National Independent Venue Association and other consumer groups.

Despite previously supporting the bill, the Fix the Tix Coalition—has backed away from the bill. We think that is misguided.

“The TICKET Act is a hard-fought compromise and, we believe, Congress’ best chance to deliver meaningful reforms that benefit fans, venues, and artists as early as next summer’s concert season,” said John Breyault, NCL’s Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud. “We are disappointed that groups that had previously supported the bill have reversed themselves, though the bill has not significantly changed since they originally endorsed it. We are concerned that Ticketmaster/Live Nation, which owns primary and secondary ticketing platforms, manages hundreds of artists and owns, controls, or has exclusive contracts with hundreds of venues, may be exerting undue influence at the expense of consumers. Congress should resist special interests, and stand up for consumers by including this package of positive reforms in the CR.”

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Saving kids’ lives through safer vehicles

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Virtually every safety feature in automobiles, even those we take for granted, like seat belts and airbags, became standard equipment only after overcoming intense resistance. The technologies that have made cars much safer for both passengers and pedestrians have come about because of the commitment, determination, and resourcefulness of those who refuse to surrender in the fight for positive change.

That’s why I am so grateful for the partnership of Sally Greenberg and the National Consumers League (NCL). The work they have done and continue to do is saving countless lives.

In the 1980s, healthcare professionals were publishing papers on the number of people, predominantly small children, who were being killed or injured by cars backing out of driveways or parking spots. A 1993 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that as many as 200 pedestrians, mostly children, were being killed each year by backing out collisions. At least 50 children every week were being backed over by vehicles.

My organization, Kids and Car Safety, compiled data on the problem and concluded that the only solution would be to mandate a rear visibility standard—cameras that would allow the driver to see what was behind the car, particularly a small child who could not be seen through the rearview mirror or rear window. The regulators were not acting, so we began working with Congress on legislation to require a rear visibility standard allowing drivers to see behind them when backing up. After all, you cannot avoid hitting something or someone you cannot see.

That’s when I teamed up with Sally Greenberg, then with Consumers Union. We began a battle that would take years but was so very necessary to prevent more families from suffering avoidable tragedies. We matched our research and our firsthand witness testimonies against the arguments that rear backup cameras would add too much to the cost of cars and that drivers wouldn’t use them. We argued that they shouldn’t only be offered as an optional feature in luxury cars.

Sally and Consumers Union, along with Kids and Car Safety and NCL, tirelessly insisted that safety could not be offered only to those who could afford it.

Finally, in 2014, a new rule was issued and took effect in 2018, mandating that all vehicles sold or leased in the United States, no matter where they were manufactured, be equipped with a rear backup camera. Today, they are thought to be as essential as seat belts, airbags, side impact protection, and electronic stability control—features that no vehicle should ever be without. And it happened because of advocates like Sally Greenberg and others who simply wouldn’t back down to the powerful, well-financed opposition.

There is more to be done to make cars safer for drivers and their families. On average, about 40 children die annually in hot cars. Often, these are infants and toddlers in rear- facing car seats, and the driver, looking in the rearview mirror, can’t tell if the seat is occupied or not.

We’re pleased to have NCL’s powerful voice engaged in yet another effort to use effective technologies to save lives. Occupant detection systems can distinguish between living beings and inanimate objects in the vehicle and can alert the driver that a child is unattended in the vehicle. This system will save lives, as NCL has compellingly pointed out. There is resistance to making occupant detection systems a mandatory feature in new cars. There always is. Yet, we were successful in adding a lifesaving traffic safety provision designed to prevent hot car fatalities, in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Kids and Car Safety and NCL have a solid track record of collaborating on these issues. When lives, health, and safety are at stake, I wouldn’t bet against us.

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Janette Fennell is the Founder and President of Kids and Car Safety, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing injury and death to children and animals in and around motor vehicles.

Flying high on consumer protections: Transforming air travel

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Even as the widespread availability of air travel has become one of the hallmarks of modern civilization, frequent negative passenger experiences have become one of modernity’s most familiar headaches. From impromptu conversations I’ve had while waiting for a flight, to formal complaints submitted to the Department of Transportation, where I serve as Secretary, I have heard countless stories of frustrating experiences that range from irritation or inconvenience to serious harm and profound violations of passenger rights. These stories, coupled with a belief that air travel can and should be a consistently better experience, have propelled us during this Biden-Harris Administration to commit ourselves to the largest expansion of passenger protections and airline enforcement in the Department’s history.

The strides we have made thus far, and they are substantial, are a credit to the civil servants of our Department and the leadership of our Administration. They also reflect tireless advocacy and important insights from pro- consumer organizations like the National Consumers League (NCL).

NCL has been protecting the interests of consumers for 125 years, and in recent years, the organization has been a tremendously important voice in the effort to ensure airlines treat their customers fairly. Recently, these contributions have included the service of NCL’s John Breyault as the consumer representative on the Department’s Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee.

In recent years, we have proudly delivered a number of important victories for consumers:

● Since President Biden took office, we have increased oversight of the airline industry and have been holding airlines accountable when they fail consumers. This has resulted in securing nearly $4 billion in refunds and reimbursements owed to airline passengers.

● The Biden-Harris Administration issued a final rule, which was then fortified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, to make it easy for consumers to obtain cash refunds when owed. If an airline cancels or significantly changes a flight, passengers are now entitled to an automatic refund within seven business days for credit card purchases if the passenger is not offered or does not accept alternative transportation or travel credit. We have made good on the principle that consumers should not have to navigate a patchwork of cumbersome processes to request and receive a refund. No more searching through airline websites to figure out how to make the request or being misled to accept a travel credit when you are entitled to a full refund.

● Another final rule we issued protects consumers against costly surprise airline junk fees. It requires airlines and ticket agents to tell consumers up front about the fees they charge for transporting bags and canceling or changing a reservation. I did not expect the concept of providing customers with the information they need to make an informed decision to be controversial, but the airline industry has decided to challenge this rule in court rather than make the necessary disclosures to their customers. We will continue to defend in court a rule that we view as commonsensical and that is expected to save consumers more than $500 million every year.

● We have also proposed a new rule that would ban airlines from charging junk fees to seat families together on a flight. Today, many airlines still don’t guarantee family seating, which means parents face concerns that they may have to pay extra just to be seated with their young child. Flying with children is already complicated enough without that added uncertainty, so we are acting to address this.

We are proud of our efforts to date, and the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act signed by President Biden earlier this year builds further on our work to improve the travel experience for airline passengers. But much work remains to be done. Good policy, and strong advocacy for consumers, will matter more than ever in the years ahead.

I want to congratulate NCL on its 125th anniversary. I look forward to continuing to work alongside NCL towards our shared goal of making aspects of everyday life, like air travel, more affordable, more manageable, and less stressful for American consumers.

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Pete Buttigieg is the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

NCL applauds CFPB final rule on overdraft fees

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December 12, 2024:  NCL Applauds CFPB Final Rule on Overdraft Fees

Contact: National Consumers League – Lisa McDonald, lisam@nclnet.org, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC— Consumers across the U.S. burdened by abusive overdraft fee practices will receive some relief after today’s announcement that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has finalized its overdraft rule. The rule will curb many large banks’ fees from $35 to approximately $5, and is estimated to save American consumers up to $5 billion annually.

The National Consumer League (NCL) applauds the CFPB’s rule as it will prevent big banks and credit unions with more than $10 billion in assets from charging junk overdraft fees that burden families with hundreds of dollars a year in unfair charges and push marginalized communities out of the banking system. The rule will push banks to offer straightforward, affordable forms of coverage protection instead.

“Predatory overdraft fees disproportionately harm communities of color and low-income families, but no one is immune to the damaging effects of these exploitative practices,” says Sally Greenberg NCL’s CEO. “By finalizing its overdraft rule, the CFPB is standing up to big banks, protecting American consumers and their hard-earned money.”

The CFPB’s action to protect consumers provides clear rules of the road to ensure consistency and clarity regarding overdraft products. The final rule requires financial institutions with over $10 billion in assets to choose from one of three options for overdraft fees:

  1. Cap fees at $5 to cover the actual costs to oversee an overdraft program.
  2. Charge fees based on actual costs and losses as a service, rather than a profit center.
  3. Treat overdraft coverage like loans, with disclosures, opt-in options, and payment flexibility.

Read the comments submitted by NCL and 143 organizations submitted in support of this rule here.

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Protecting consumers from junk fees and unfair pricing

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Fighting to lower costs for Amer-icans is at the heart of President Biden’s economic agenda—just as it is for the National Consumers League (NCL). The last few years have been especially challenging for a lot of families, as the pandem-ic-era disruptions and Putin’s war have driven up costs in every part of a household budget, from rent to groceries to childcare.

Since taking office, President Biden has called on big corporations to pass along savings to consumers; secured historic legislation lowering the costs of prescription drugs, childcare, utility bills, and health insurance; directed his Cabinet to use every administrative tool to lower costs; and gone after hidden junk fees in nearly every area of a family’s budget—from banking overdraft fees and credit card late fees to attending live events. 

These junk fees are everywhere, whether in the form of mysterious “resort fees” that are tacked onto bills for ordinary hotel stays or “processing fees” attached to concert tickets at the last minute. While hidden fees might not matter to the wealthiest Americans, they add up for hard-working Americans. Research shows that consumers pay upwards of 20% more when faced with junk fees than if they had access to the all-in price up front. It is hard for honest companies that show the all-in price up front to compete fairly when competitors post prices without the hidden fees that consumers will ultimately have to pay.

This is why the President launched a Strike Force on Unfair Pricing and has charged his Competition Council with eliminating junk fees across industries. The Administration has implemented rules against junk fees related to air travel, cable TV, broadband, and financial services—like banking overdraft fees. This is putting hundreds of dollars back into the pockets of American families.

The Administration’s actions to cut credit card late fees will save the estimated 45 million Americans who regularly incur these fees an average of $220 per year. Our actions to ban family seating fees could save a family of four $200 on a round-trip ticket. Another proposed action would require businesses—including online ticket sellers, apartment rental companies, hotels, and car rentals—to provide consumers with the all-in price up front and to disclose any mandatory fees, what they are for, and whether they are refundable. The Administration’s actions are projected to save Americans more than $20 billion annually—and we are just getting started.

So much of the progress we have made to crack down on junk fees would not be possible without the advocacy and research of organizations like the NCL, which has a distinguished 125-year history of advocating on behalf of American consumers.

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Lael Brainard is an economist who serves as the Director of the National Economic Council.