No More Hidden Fees: FTC’s New Rule Takes Effect Today
As of May 12, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission’s new rule banning unfair or deceptive fees is officially in effect. If you’ve ever been surprised by junk fees at checkout this rule is for you.
What it means for fans — and why XP didn’t need to change a thing
As of today, May 12, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission’s new rule banning unfair or deceptive fees is officially in effect. If you’ve ever been surprised by junk fees at checkout while buying tickets or booking a hotel, this rule is for you.
But at XP, we’ve been doing it this way from the start.
🚫 What Is the New FTC Rule?
The FTC’s “Junk Fees Rule” requires any business selling:
Live-event tickets, and
Short-term lodging (hotels, Airbnb, etc.)
...to show total prices upfront — including all mandatory fees — before you check out.
No more drip pricing. No more sticker shock at the final screen. What you see is what you pay.
👉 Learn more on ftc.gov →
💰 What This Means for Fans
Platforms now must:
Display all required fees in the advertised price
Show total prices more prominently than partial ones
Clearly separate optional add-ons (like parking or breakfast)
Failing to comply? That’s a $51,744 per violation fine. And yes, each instance counts.
✅ XP’s Been Doing This All Along
While some companies scramble to update their checkout flows today, XP didn’t have to change a thing.
From day one, we’ve championed:
All-in pricing
No hidden fees
Total transparency at every step
This wasn’t about compliance for us. It’s about respect — for fans, for artists, and for the experience you’re paying for.
🎟️ Built Different — Built for Fans
Whether you're buying tickets to Beyoncé, the US Open, or your next local show:
You know exactly what you’re paying
You’re not hit with fees at the last second
You can even set price alerts by section to track the exact seats you care about
🧠 TL;DR
The FTC’s new rule bans hidden fees starting today
XP’s always offered upfront, all-in pricing — no surprises
We welcome this shift — and we hope the rest of the industry keeps up
Join the conversation at @xpticket