Keep consumers engaged and informed to maintain momentum and compliance.
The outraged public is the driving force here – we must keep illustrating the problem and showing how reforms will help their wallets. That means continuing to spotlight egregious fee examples in media (e.g.
Why this works
- The outraged public is the driving force here – we must keep illustrating the problem and showing how reforms will help their wallets.
- That means continuing to spotlight egregious fee examples in media (e.g.
- viral social media posts of $50 “convenience fees”), which then lawmakers reference.
- Advocacy groups might organize “junk fee hunters” to report new hidden fees, ensuring no industry slips under radar.
- Consumer education is also key: as all-in pricing rolls out, inform people that if they see hidden fees, they can report them to FTC (because the new rules make it illegal).
- Essentially, empower consumers to be watchdogs.
- Also, highlight positive stories: “Because of new rules, X family saved $80 on their vacation – and had no nasty surprises.” That builds goodwill and makes it harder for any future administration to roll back these policies.
Consumer Reports
Tax-deductibleEmpowering consumers and advocating for fair, safe products and practices
Consumer Reports (CR) is an independent, nonprofit consumer organization founded in 1936, known for its expert product testing and consumer advocacy. CR provides unbiased product ratings and reviews to educate the public, and its advocacy arm fights for policies that ensure fairness, safety, and transparency in the marketplace (such as eliminating hidden fees and defending consumer rights:). From lobbying for stronger consumer protections to educating consumers on issues like digital privacy, CR aims to create a safer, more informed marketplace.
Mechanism
About EducationHow Consumer Reports uses funding
- Set objectives for what consumers should understand and what action they can take when fees are hidden.
- Develop simple guides and examples that show total pricing versus last‑step fee shocks.
- Deliver the message repeatedly through trusted messengers, community programming, and media cycles.
- Promote reporting pathways so consumers can flag violations when rules make hidden fees illegal.
- Collect feedback and iterate materials to keep them accurate and usable as rules and practices change.
Milestones
Checkpoints and the expected timing for each step
- 1
Education toolkit shipped
0–30 daysGuides, examples, and reporting pathways are packaged for partners and distribution.
- 2
Sustained delivery cadence launched
1–3 monthsOutreach and media placements run on a repeatable schedule, not just one-off moments.
- 3
Enforcement-aligned reporting surge
During enforcement windowsConsumers know where to report violations and feedback reaches enforcement partners.
- 4
Iteration cycle documented
OngoingFeedback improves materials and closes common misconceptions.