Americans spend hundreds of dollars on junk fees every year, totaling $65 billion annually.

That got the attention of the Biden administration and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

In the meantime, though, you’ve got the option to fight back against junk charges.

A couple discuss their finances as they sit on their couch with their laptop.

What are Junk Fees?

Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.

This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.

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Go ahead and start now, but be sure to bookmark this post so you could easily return later.

Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.

TheAmerican Economic Liberty Projectwrites:

This is not just a consumer issue.

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Often people dont know what they will actually pay until they get to the checkout screen.

Search costsare not financial, they are the consumers time and attention.

Businesses know and take advantage of that.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and CFPB are proposingClick to Cancel.

They posit that it should be as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up.

If anyone has ever tried to get out of a gym membership, they will be grateful for this.

However, there is some good news.

Many banks have already rolled back some of their fees, reducing overdraft fees.

Airlines are starting to drop the charge for allowing a family with small children to sit together.

Where to Watch For Junk Fees

Junk fees abound.

Keep an eye out for junk fees in these industries.

Looking for more transparency?

The DOT created anairlines dashboard.

It shows consumers which airlines have improved their practices on family seating, flight delays, and cancellations.

Several airlines have agreed to stop adding a surcharge for families flying together.

Auto Loans

There are several areas where consumers can be overcharged in their auto loans.

Late fees often ignore the cap in contracts.

The CFPB also found that many repossession fees are excessive compared to the cost of repossession.

Credit Unions and banks collected $9.9 Billion just in overdraft fees in 2022.

Late that year, the CFPB issued guidance restraining these financial institutions from overcharging surprise overdraft and depositor fees.

Cable Companies

Cable companies love the $28 Billion they get each year in excess fees.

Prepaid credit cards can also come with ahost of feesthat provide little or no service to the consumer.

It is worth your time to research prepaid credit cards.

They state there must be clear disclosure of what plans cover.

Mortgages

Excessive or junk feesare possible every step of the way with a mortgage.

Ask lenders to explain the fees, especially if they seem to fluctuate while you are preparing to buy.

once you nail a mortgage, be aware of your rights.

Certain fees can be waived when a financial loss mitigation option is triggered.

check that you are not being charged for private mortgage insurance if you didnt approve it.

Sometimes the loans are set up to automatically renew, whether the consumer can afford them or not.

Unauthorized withdrawals can cause overdrafts, amongmany other issueswith the payday loan industry.

Regulations have been released that require landlords to be more transparent about the fees renters will be charged.

There is also proposed legislation in Congress that if passed, will limit fees and weird charges.

These regulations are already in place for other types of investments.

Tickets

Concert and festival ticket pricing have long been bemoaned by fans.

It also has penalties that can actually sting a business using shady practices.

Hotels and resorts made almost $3 billion on these fees alone in 2018.

Resorts add mandatory nightly fees, whether or not people use the gym or if the wifi actually works.

Hotels add a 5% per night fee, separate from the price already confirmed.

Rental car companies will charge more than six times what a toll costs when a transponder is used.

A handy tool is thishotel and resort fee checker.

Proposed rules would have dealers giving you the total cost up front.

What Can You Do About Junk Fees?

The first step is doing your research.

The second step is overcoming human nature, which is a little harder.

You might think each company charges about the same price, but there really is a good variety.

Review your billing statements, and if you see an unexpected charge, get in touch with customer service.

Get everything in writing.

If you have a banking problem, reach out and talk to your bank.

They will often refund a fee if you ask, and havent had a lot of previous issues.

Here is agood articleon how to avoid most bank and credit union fees.

Pay with a credit card rather than a debit card, if possible.

Credit cards make it easier to dispute a charge.

Many of the regulations mentioned above are set to start in 2024.

Some industries are already becoming more transparent in their pricing.

California passed a sweeping anti-junk fee law that will impact industries nationwide.

The Penny Hoarder contributor JoEllen Schilke writes on lifestyle and culture topics.

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