Hefty card charges for online bookings face probe

CONTROVERSIAL add- on charges for card payments imposed by airlines and other companies for online bookings are to face a major challenge as a result of a complaint by a British consumer rights body.

Consumer rights group, Which?, is to ask the British Office of Fair Trading to examine what it claims are “excessive” credit and debit card charges forced on consumers when buying items like tickets for flights and music concerts online.

Which? yesterday announced it will be lodging what it described as a “super-complaint” into card surcharges. Such a complaint allows designated consumer bodies in Britain to complain to the Office of Fair Trading about alleged unfair practices affecting consumers.