Consumers allege AMC, Hilton, Legoland, others charge hidden fees

Hidden fees class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Consumers recently targeted Hilton, Legoland New York, Look Cinemas and AMC Entertainment Holdings with class action lawsuits. 
• Why: The class action lawsuits claim the companies failed to disclose fees to consumers upfront. 
• Where: The class action lawsuits were filed in federal courts in New York and the District of Columbia.

Consumers recently filed class action lawsuits against entertainment and hospitality companies accused of charging hidden transaction fees to consumers. 

Concerns involving hidden fees also prompted recent action from lawmakers, with a pair of senators introducing a bill last month aimed at increasing transparency for ticket prices and fees on the secondary market. 

Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, teamed up to introduce the Fans First Act, which would require an upfront disclosure of ticket prices and clearer terms and conditions, among other things.  

Traveler advocacy group claims Hilton sprung last-minute fees on consumers

Traveler advocacy group Travelers United filed a class action lawsuit against Hilton last month over claims the multinational hospitality company charged consumers a so-called “junk fee” at checkout. 

Travelers United argues Hilton falsely advertised its hotel rooms rates in an alleged violation of District of Columbia law by charging “resort fees” and “destination fees” to consumers after failing to disclose the fees upfront. 

The lawsuit accused Hilton of attempting to deceive consumers into believing its room rates are cheaper than they are and of “systematically cheating” consumers out of tens of millions of dollars each year by doing so. 

Legoland New York failed to disclose processing fee upfront, class action says

Consumers filed a class action lawsuit against Legoland New York in December over claims the theme park failed to disclose a processing fee. 

Merlin Entertainments, a British theme park company, owns Legoland New York, which is accused of violating New York’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Law by allegedly charging a $4.99 processing fee that only appears at checkout. 

“Whenever a visitor selects a park ticket on the website … he or she is quoted a fee-less price, only to be ambushed by a $4.99 ‘processing fee’ at checkout,” the Legoland class action states. 

Look Cinemas charges convenience fee for tickets sold on website, class action says

A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against the owner of Look Cinemas last month by a consumer arguing the company violated New York law by allegedly charging a $1.95 convenience fee at checkout for movie tickets purchased on its website. 

The consumer claims Look Cinemas initially quotes a feeless price for movie tickets sold on its website then allegedly “ambushes” customers with convenience fees that serve to “swindle substantial sums of money from its customers,” according to the lawsuit.

“For a family of four, Defendant tacks on an extra $7.80 at the end of the purchase process. That is roughly equivalent to the cost of a bucket of popcorn,” the Look Cinemas class action states. 

AMC puts consumers ‘on a shot clock’ with convenience fees, class action says

A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against AMC Entertainment Holdings earlier this month, arguing the company unlawfully charges customers a convenience fee at checkout for movie tickets bought on its website. 

The consumer argues AMC is in violation of New York’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Law and puts its customers in a tough position by allegedly failing to incorporate the convenience fees in its advertised price for movie tickets it sells online. 

“Because New York is a busy place, and because these fees are only flashed after a movie-goer selects their seats, Defendant can plausibly put its customers on a shot clock and tell them they need to decide quick, because Defendant cannot hold their seats open forever,” the AMC class action states. 

Verizon agrees to pay $100M to end claims it failed to disclose certain fees 

In settlement news, a wireless provider doing business as Verizon Wireless recently agreed to pay $100 million to put an end to claims it misled consumers by allegedly not disclosing certain fees in postpaid wireless service plans it offered. 

The settlement benefits a nationwide class of consumers who made payments on so-called administrative charges for postpaid wireless or data services offered by Verizon between Jan. 1, 2016, and Nov. 8, 2023.  

Verizon, which has denied any wrongdoing, will pay a total of $100 million into a settlement fund that will be distributed to eligible class members. 

Have you been charged a hidden fee that was not initially disclosed? Let us know in the comments.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Senate introduces bill that would require secondary sellers to disclose full ticket prices, including fees
• Pioneer Bank class action alleges company improperly assesses overdraft fees
• Federal Reserve proposes decreasing debit card swipe fees
• New FTC rule would ban hidden ‘junk’ fees added to purchases