CNN —President Joe Biden is slated to announce new progress on his administration’s “competition agenda” during the fourth meeting of the Presidential Competition Council on Wednesday, taking steps to slash junk fees while calling on Congress to pass legislation targeting hidden and exorbitant fees across the travel, entertainment, utility and hospitality industries.
Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, said Biden will announce that the CFPB will propose a rule slashing excessive credit card late fees in a move the White House says will reduce those fees from $30 to $8 on average, saving American consumers as much as $9 billion a year.
“Over a decade ago, Congress banned excessive credit card late fees, but companies have exploited a regulatory loophole that has allowed them to escape scrutiny for charging an otherwise illegal junk fee,” Chopra said in a statement to CNN.
“Today’s proposed rule seeks to save families billions of dollars and ensure the credit card market is fair and competitive.”On a call with reporters Tuesday, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese said Biden will also use the meeting to call on Congress to pass a “Junk Fee Prevention Act,” targeting four types of excessive fees — excessive online concert, sporting event, and entertainment ticket fees; airline fees for families sitting together on flights; exorbitant early termination fees for TV, phone and internet services; and surprise resort and destination fees.
“But they also reduce competition and make it more difficult for innovators and new businesses to break into markets and offer better services at lower prices.”Earlier this year, lawmakers grilled Live Nation president and CFO Joe Berchtold following a ticket sales debacle over exorbitant ticketing fees.