Hidden charges when shopping online
If you're shopping online the price that you see is sometimes not the total cost of your goods. Before you pay always check for extra fees.
Booking fees
Many ticket sellers add a booking fee per ticket. Booking fees pay for costs like running the booking system and sending tickets.
Booking fees often vary but a few examples are:
- cinema ticket - booking fee may be under one pound
- concert, sporting match or other top event - ticket agency may charge five pounds or more per person
Tip: when you confirm payment, check the booking fee per ticket. If you buy tickets for a group, small fees add up. For example, four tickets at five pounds each is an extra £20.00 on top of what you were expecting to pay.
Delivery fees
Check if the seller adds delivery fees. Some sellers offer free delivery and say so on their site. Others sometimes take off the fee if your order is over a certain amount.
Delivery fees can be one of the following or both:
- per item - each item has a charge
- per delivery - one charge for the whole order
Tip: order several things at once to avoid multiple delivery fees.
Customs charges
Items sent from other countries go through customs to check they're not banned or restricted.
You may need to pay tax and customs for goods sent from abroad.