SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Let's talk about three sneaky ways hidden fees are costing us money in today's Begley's Bargains.
No. 1: Banks
According to Consumer Reports, banks are one of the biggest offenders, raking in $11.5 billion in overdraft fees alone. According to Credit.com, you'll want to steer clear from bounce coverage and “courtesy” overdraft protection.
Why? Many of the fees associated with the programs are expensive and not worth it.
No. 2: Planes
Remember those "temporary" baggage fees to help the airlines offset the cost of fuel several years ago? Well, the price of fuel has dropped but the fees have stayed.
In fact, reservation and baggage fees totaled $7.6 billion in 2018.
Here is a tip for you — when you book a first-class ticket, you automatically get two free checked bags. Sometimes Delta offers the upgrade for as little as $50.
On Airtran, you can upgrade for as little as $35. And Southwest allows all passengers to check up to two bags for free. It never hurts to ask when checking your baggage which is the better deal.
No. 3: Hotels
They rake in $2.1 billion in resort fees and surcharges. Saving money here is often just as easy as calling the hotel and speaking to them directly. They actually might offer you a better deal compared to anything you’ve found online.
Your money matters! Thirty-percent of the people surveyed by Consumer Reports were successful in getting some of these fees removed by actually fighting it.
Follow the conversation on Facebook with Brittany Begley.
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