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Sick of extra fees online, or ‘drip pricing’? Canadian shoppers are fighting back

Place a shipping order with Canada Post and you might be hit with a ‘fuel surcharge’ of almost 25 per cent
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Changes to the federal Competition Act now explicitly label undisclosed fees and surcharges a “harmful business practice,” leading to lawsuits against online retailers, movie theatres and even Canada Post. The Canada Post logo is seen outside the company’s Pacific Processing Centre, in Richmond, B.C., on June 1, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

If you shop online you’re likely familiar with the experience — you agree to buy for a certain price, but by the time you check out, the cost has ballooned with fees and surcharges.

Place a shipping order with Canada Post and you might be hit with a “fuel surcharge” of almost 25 per cent. Buy movie tickets, flowers, make travel plans — all could be subject to hidden fees that are subsequently added to the originally quoted cost.

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