PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes this week joined a coalition of 19 state Attorneys Generals in supporting the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) proposed Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees.
“The price advertised by a business should be the price paid by a consumer and businesses should be fully transparent about the nature and purpose of fees,” said Attorney General Mayes. “Using ‘bait and switch’ pricing and junk fees is unfair and deceptive to consumers. I strongly support the FTC’s proposed rule on this issue as it will help ensure Arizonans aren’t misled or tricked into paying more than expected.”
The comment letter was filed on Wednesday in response to an FTC notice of proposed rulemaking, which allowed for comments on the proposed rule’s provisions, including:
- Prohibiting ‘bait and switch’ advertising by requiring businesses, from the outset, to clearly and conspicuously disclose the total price, inclusive of any mandatory fees;
- Requiring businesses to more prominently display the total price when pricing information is advertised;
- Prohibiting businesses from misrepresenting the nature and purpose of any fee, and;
- Requiring businesses to clearly and conspicuously disclose the nature and purpose of certain fees (such as shipping charges and optional fees) before the consumer consents to pay.
In their letter, the Attorneys General support the FTC’s proposed rule and highlight their enforcement efforts in protecting consumers from deceptive fee practices.
Joining Attorney General Mayes are the Attorneys General from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.