Concert tickets and hotel stays must show all-in prices: what the FTC fees rule covers
Since May 2025, sellers of live-event tickets and short-term lodging must show the total price upfront. StubHub has already paid $10 million under the rule. Here's what it requires and what it leaves out.
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What's happened
The FTC's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect on May 12, 2025. It was finalized in December 2024 and covers two kinds of purchase: live-event tickets and short-term lodging. When we checked on October 27, 2026, it was in force and being enforced.
On April 9, 2026, the FTC announced that StubHub would pay $10 million to settle charges that it broke the rule in the days after it took effect. The FTC says StubHub showed ticket prices for high-demand NFL games between May 12 and 14, 2025 without including mandatory fees. The money goes to refunds for people who bought tickets on those dates. StubHub didn't agree with the FTC's claims.
In July 2026, the travel app Hopper agreed to a $35 million settlement, subject to court approval, in a case the FTC based partly on the rule. The FTC said Hopper showed a total price that left out hidden, pre-selected fees. Hopper said the amount "does not reflect the merit of the claims."
What the rule requires
- Total price first. Wherever a business shows a price, it must show the total price, and more prominently than other pricing information.
- Mandatory fees count. The total must include all fees you have to pay that the seller knows and can work out upfront, such as resort fees, cleaning fees and ticket service fees.
- Three things can be left out. Government charges such as taxes, shipping charges, and fees for optional extras. These must still be disclosed before you're asked to pay.
- No misleading fee names. A seller can't misrepresent the nature, purpose, amount or refundability of a fee. The FTC gives the example of a "taxes and fees" line that hides money the seller keeps as profit.
- Resale sites too. Secondary ticket sellers and booking platforms are covered.
What it doesn't cover
The FTC narrowed the rule from its original proposal, which would have covered almost everything. It doesn't apply to long-term rentals with an ongoing landlord-tenant relationship, or to film screenings and pre-recorded shows. Restaurants, food delivery, airline tickets, rental cars and utility bills aren't covered by this rule either. Some states have their own all-in pricing laws that go further, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon and Virginia.
A worked example
This is an illustration, not a real case.
Two hotel sites list the same room. Site A shows "$129 a night." Site B shows "$161 a night total." Under the rule, if Site A adds a mandatory $32 resort fee at checkout, it has shown the price the wrong way, because the first price you saw must be the total. Taxes can still be added on top at both sites. For a three-night stay, that hidden fee would have added $96.
What to do now
- Compare total prices, not headline ones. Any ticket or hotel price you see should already include mandatory fees.
- Screenshot the first price you're shown and the checkout screen.
- Watch for pre-ticked extras, such as insurance, tips or "VIP support." Optional fees must be optional.
- Report surprises. If a mandatory fee appears late, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general.
- Dispute charges you didn't agree to with your card issuer. Our guide to credit card disputes explains how.
FAQs
Can I get a refund if I paid a hidden fee?
Not automatically. The FTC can order refunds and civil penalties, as it did with StubHub. For your own purchase, ask the seller first, then consider a card dispute.
Are taxes included in the total price?
No, they can be shown separately, as can shipping. But they must be disclosed before you pay.
Does it cover Airbnb-style rentals?
Yes. Short-term and vacation rentals and home shares are covered, along with hotels, motels and inns.
Ways to save
If you're buying tickets for a holiday show or game, TicketNetwork is one of the resale marketplaces on Promo Magpie. Compare the all-in price across sites before you buy.
Sources: FTC: Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, FAQs, Federal Register: Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, FTC, April 9, 2026: StubHub refunding $10 million in fees, Consumer Finance Monitor, July 16, 2026: Hopper reaches $35 million agreement with the FTC, Regulatory Oversight, April 2026: state attorneys general and junk fees
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