What is junk fee / ftc junk fees rule?

A junk fee is an added charge — a 'service,' 'convenience,' or 'resort' fee, for example — not clearly disclosed in the advertised price. The FTC's Junk Fees Rule (the Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees) requires sellers of live-event tickets and short-term lodging specifically to disclose the total price up front; it took effect May 12, 2025, and remains in force as of August 2026.

Unlike the vacated Click-to-Cancel rule, the Junk Fees Rule survived legal challenge and is actively enforced, with state attorneys general bringing parallel actions under their own consumer protection statutes in 2026. The federal rule currently covers only live-event ticketing and short-term lodging — an earlier, broader draft covering more industries was narrowed before finalization — so 'junk fee' complaints in other sectors, such as rental application fees, bank overdraft charges, or telecom early-termination charges, typically proceed under general state deceptive-practices statutes instead of this specific federal rule.

Last reviewed 2026-08-22.