Hidden fees and drip pricing
Since July 2024, California's "Honest Pricing Law" (Civil Code §1770(a)(29)) makes it a CLRA violation to advertise or display a price that does not include all mandatory fees and charges other than government taxes and shipping. Service fees, resort fees, convenience fees and "platform" fees revealed only at checkout are exactly what the law targets — for tickets, hotels, delivery apps, rentals, and anything else sold to consumers.
Fake sale prices
Business & Professions Code §17501 prohibits advertising a "former" or "regular" price unless it was the prevailing market price within the previous three months. A perpetual "50% off" from a list price that was never charged is false advertising, not a discount.
Automatic renewal
California's Automatic Renewal Law (Bus. & Prof. Code §17600 et seq.) requires companies to present renewal terms clearly and conspicuously before you buy, get your affirmative consent, send an acknowledgment you can keep, remind you before a free trial converts to paid, and let you cancel online as easily as you signed up. When a company fails any of those steps, the goods and services delivered are treated as an unconditional gift — meaning charges may be recoverable.
- You were charged more than the advertised priceMandatory fees appeared only at the end of checkout.
- The "sale" wasn't a saleThe strike-through price was never the real price.
- A free trial or subscription kept charging youNo clear disclosure, no reminder, or no easy way to cancel.
- You were billed for something you never agreed toAdd-ons, memberships or "protection plans" slipped into the order.
Ask a lawyer about your case
We are prepared to discuss your case and determine what legal action should be taken — whether it is an individual claim or a case on behalf of everyone affected. We offer free consultations and charge nothing upfront. Our office is in San Diego, and we routinely handle cases in all State and Federal Courts throughout California — wherever in the state you live or work.