Are you sick of hidden fees racking up your Airbnb costs? Listen to this one-minute podcast for a feature that helps you avoid costly surprises.
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Free money? Yes, please! Claim these class-action lawsuits today
I don’t mean to start with something sad, but whenever I talk about class-action lawsuits, it reminds me of the day my father died back in 1997. He and my mom were about to go on a cruise in a few days when suddenly, his allergies kicked in. So, he took an over-the-counter (OTC) allergy pill that interacted with his heart medication. He suffered a fatal heart attack because of that.
Years later, my mother received a letter that the OTC allergy pill was yanked off the market, along with a settlement check from a class-action lawsuit for $432. She spent countless hours on that paperwork.
Thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to be a part of a class-action lawsuit. No more hunting down lawyers and cases. You just fill out a form online. That’s it. Here are a few I thought you might be interested in knowing about.
Classic hidden fees
A lawsuit alleges Verizon charged some customers “undisclosed administration fees in a deceptive and unfair manner.” Oops.
If you had these charges on your account between Jan. 1, 2016, and Nov. 8, 2023, you may qualify for up to $100. You have until April 15, 2024 to file your claim.
At least you didn’t have to wait in that line
Chick-fil-A is paying out $4.4 million. It called delivery free or low-cost, then raised prices on delivery orders to bury the hidden fees. Oh, nuggets!
Anyone who made a delivery order through the app or website between Nov. 1, 2019, and April 30, 2021, in California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey or New York are eligible. Submit a claim by Feb. 15, 2024, to receive up to $29.25.
Mark-up madness
The photography products company Shutterfly (think a mug with your kid’s face on it) posted products at discounted prices that were based on fake regular prices. That math ain’t mathin’.
If you made a purchase on Shutterfly at an advertised discounted price between April 1, 2018, and Aug. 25, 2023, you may be eligible for a $25 voucher. You have until Feb. 5, 2024 to file a claim.
Buy now, pay later isn’t as simple as you think
You see them on about every shopping site now. Think of “BNPL” (buy now, pay later) as a short-term financing plan. With a few clicks, you request a limited loan agreement to pay for items over time.
Even Apple is getting in on the action. With Apple Pay Later, buy that $1,000 iPhone today and pay it off over four payments. PayPal has one, too, along with services like Afterpay, Affirm and Klarna.
Here are the cities with the highest Airbnb fees
Here’s one major problem with the rental platform Airbnb. You go online, find a property with a price that works for you and book it — only for the total cost to skyrocket. What gives? Here’s a trick to avoid getting hit with those hidden fees.
Run a small business? Follow this end-of-the-year checklist before 2022 ends
The new year is right around the corner, which means it’s time for New Year’s resolutions, paperwork filing and holiday vacations. For busy business owners, there’s a lot to keep track of. Make sure you don’t forget anything important with this small business checklist.
Avoid sneaky subscription fees
How much are your monthly subscriptions costing you? I bet it’s more expensive than you think. Listen to this one-minute podcast to clean up those hidden fees eating up your wallet.
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Why you should reconsider using buy now, pay later loans
If you have an ongoing subscription service, the easiest way to pay is to set up an autopay plan. If you’re worried about late fees and interest, autopay is one way to avoid those penalties.
While you may be tempted to spread autopayment plans around, some recurring charges are better off being paid as you go. For example, an annual fee may cost less per month than a monthly charge, but it could hit you hard when that annual payment comes due. Tap or click here for five bills you should never put on autopay.
8 proven ways cheap people lower their monthly internet, cable, and streaming bills
The average American will pay $32,400 for internet access throughout a lifetime. This number, calculated by researchers at Reviews.org, doesn’t even include today’s big dogs. I’m talking about your cable, streaming, cellphone and other subscriptions.
Buying a car? Don't get fooled into paying $2K more
Buying a new car can be a stressful event. You could spend a lot of money, and if something goes wrong, you could be stuck with a bad deal. You also shouldn’t be paying more for unnecessary features or fees you don’t know about.
5 ways to save money on your phone bill – and maybe even get free service
Our monthly cellphone bills are usually sky-high. Luckily, there are a few ways to save money on your cellphone bills. You don’t need to make huge changes, like switching out your Samsung Galaxy for a secondhand flip phone (although that would save a lot of money).
New law could save you money on your cable and internet bills
Cable bills have been rising to out of control prices for a few years now. That’s what sparked the cut the cord phenomenon in the first place. It’s not just the plan you chose making it so expensive, either.
Tons of hidden fees are constantly being added. Tap or click here to see some of the fees you didn’t know you’ve been paying for.
5 ways you're wasting money on tech
As anyone who loves tech can tell you, owning all the latest gadgets isn’t cheap. To stay on the cutting edge, you can easily blow through several paychecks on new equipment each year. This barely leaves any room for bills and essentials.
Never lose your boarding pass or flight details again
Do you travel a lot for business or pleasure? Navigating a busy airport is a nightmare, but it doesn’t always have to be.
Even if you arrive early, there are still lots of unexpected changes to deal with. Sometimes your plane switches gates at the last minute or there’s an extra-long line at the security check. Tap or click here to learn how to skip the security line at airports. The bottom line is flying isn’t always simple.