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13 Oct, 2015

AirBnB and eDreams pinged by Australian consumer watchdog over undisclosed fees

Lodging website Airbnb and online travel agency eDreams have been told to clean up their act after running afoul of Australian consumer law for slugging customers with service and other fees that were not properly disclosed when they were booking accommodation.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said in a statement both companies misled and deceived customers by failing to adequately disclose to consumers in Australia these mandatory fees, including service fees and, in the case of Airbnb, cleaning fees.

The ACCC has accepted court enforceable undertakings from the brands’ respective parent companies – Airbnb Ireland and Vacaciones eDreams SL – following concerns that the companies made online price representations to consumers in Australia that were in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.

Read the rest: AirBnB and eDreams pinged by ACCC over undisclosed fees – Sydney Morning Herald