SEATTLE — Climate Pledge arena will pay nearly $500,000 in penalties after charging thousands of customers a hidden fee.
Between Feb. 27 and July 22, 2023, Climate Pledge added a 3% fee to food and beverage purchases that they did not disclose "in any way" before customers made purchases, according to the Washington State Attorney General's Office (AG).
This violates Washington's Consumer Protection Act, which stipulates that fees must be clearly disclosed before customers pay them.
The Climate Pledge ownership group charged the fee on 183,000 transactions, bringing the total cost to Washington customers to $162,917.
As a condition of resolving the case, Climate Pledge Arena must agree to fully reimburse all Washington customers who were impacted, including an additional $10 for their inconvenience and loss of money; pay $315,000 to the AG's office for the cost of bringing the case and future enforcement work; and disclose all fees that they charge customers in the future.
“Washington law is simple: If you charge a fee, you must clearly disclose that fee before someone pays it,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson said. “Climate Pledge was not doing that. Now they are paying the price. If you believe a company is charging hidden fees in Washington, contact my office.”