This past October, officials with the Federal Trade Commission announced they were seeking public comments on a new proposed rule to prohibit junk fees, which are hidden and bogus fees that can harm consumers and undercut honest businesses. The FTC has estimated that these fees can cost consumers tens of billions of dollars per year in unexpected costs. The public comment period originally was set to expire on Jan. 8, 2024.

Because the existing deadline falls immediately after the holiday season, the Commission has extended the public comment period for 30 days, until Feb. 7, 2024. Information about how to submit comments can be found in the Federal Register notice announcing the extension.

The Commission vote approving the extension of the public comment period was 3-0.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.