UK Bans Hidden Fees & Fake Reviews

Hidden fees and dodgy five-star reviews—two of the internet’s most frustrating quirks—are finally being dragged into the light. As of today, the UK is clamping down on these underhand tactics with new rules under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024, and your checkout page might just start looking a lot less shady.

Say goodbye to those surprise “service” or “admin” fees that magically appear just before you click “buy.” From travel sites to food delivery apps, businesses are now legally required to display all unavoidable costs upfront. No more paying 25% more than you expected just to get your pizza delivered five minutes sooner. According to government research, these so-called “dripped fees” have been costing Brits a whopping £2.2 billion annually. Let that sink in.

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The new law also targets fake reviews, another long-standing internet gripe. Whether it’s a no-name gadget with 1,000 suspiciously glowing write-ups or a restaurant with more stars than a Marvel premiere, companies can no longer fake it till they make it. In fact, they’re now legally accountable for the reviews that appear on their pages—and yes, that includes reviews paid for in free products or five quid PayPal transfers.

“These changes will give consumers more power and control over their hard-earned cash,” said Justin Madders, Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets. “And it levels the playing field for honest businesses being undercut by bad actors.” No more clicking through ten pages only to find a ‘processing fee’ that’s about as real as the restaurant’s glowing reviews.

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And the timing couldn’t be better. According to the Department for Business and Trade, 90% of consumers rely on online reviews, which played a role in £217 billion worth of e-commerce sales in 2023. A separate study last year found at least 1 in 10 of these reviews are fake—and that’s a conservative estimate.

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The new rules also cover areas like broadband installation, where setup fees often popped up last-minute, and ticketing platforms, where “booking fees” magically appear just before payment. Optional extras like extra legroom or hold luggage won’t be impacted—sorry, airline travellers—but mandatory charges now have to be crystal clear.

In short? No more stealth fees. No more fake praise. And no more being duped into buying something that doesn’t turn up or tastes like cardboard. Tech might be smart, but consumers just got smarter.