Illegal 'drip pricing' could add thousands to the cost of your holiday
The UK's consumer watchdog has opened an investigation into Trainline, RED Driving School, and Virgin Holidays.
By BBC News
The UK’s competition watchdog has opened investigations into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and RED Driving School over concerns that mandatory fees were not shown upfront. The cases are part of a clampdown on so-called drip pricing, where extra charges appear later in the booking process.
The Competition and Markets Authority said the investigations are at an early stage and no findings have been made. For Trainline, the focus is on whether booking fees were included in the total price shown at the start of the ticket purchase journey.
Virgin Atlantic is being examined over package holiday pricing, including whether resort fees and local taxes were presented clearly from the outset. RED Driving School is under scrutiny over booking and digital fees for driving lessons.
The regulator said mandatory charges can leave customers facing unexpected costs or having to work out the real total themselves. It said it had sent advisory letters to the firms as part of its first consumer protection drive using its new enforcement powers.