President Biden will meet with executives from companies like SeatGeek, Live Nation, and Airbnb today about getting rid of surprise fees and highlight new commitments being made by some of them to make prices more transparent.

As someone with English origins, who has lived in the US a long time … even today I am constantly surprised by the lack of transparency - at every turn.

Example

The restaurant advertises your drinks and food at a total cost of (say) $60.
When the bill arrives (state by state it varies but in California), it will come in at around $64.35 - with an expectancy of you ‘voluntarily’ adding a further 15 to 30% (the range I often see on restaurant recommendations).

Lets call it the ‘minimum … 15% - adding another $9.

For a total of $73.35 - fully 22% more than the advertised price.

22% of surprise fees that will not be part of Biden’s discussion.