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<\/p>\nOnline train ticket retailers are using so-called drip pricing with booking fees of up to \u00a36.45 per transaction, a regulator has found.<\/p>\n
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said the companies must ensure their booking or finder’s fees are included within upfront prices.<\/p>\n
Drip pricing involves fees being added to advertised low prices.<\/p>\n
The ORR reviewed the websites and apps of 19 third-party train ticket retailers.<\/p>\n
Twelve were found to charge booking fees, and seven of these did not include this amount in the upfront price.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Online train ticket retailers are using so-called drip pricing with booking fees of up to \u00a36.45 per transaction, a regulator has found<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/11\/14\/78823445-12850551-image-a-2_1702304477787.jpg\")
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The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said the companies must ensure their booking or finder’s fees are included within upfront prices<\/p>\n
The ORR’s review found that booking fees ranged from 45p per ticket to \u00a36.45 per transaction.<\/p>\n
Finder’s fees were 10-15% of the saving made on split tickets, which involve purchasing multiple tickets for single journeys to cut the overall price.<\/p>\n
ORR director of strategy, policy and reform Stephanie Tobyn said: ‘Consumers can now purchase rail tickets from a wide variety of websites and apps.<\/p>\n
‘This report highlights that some online retailers are not as transparent as they need to be when it comes to how they display or provide information on additional fees.<\/p>\n
‘We want to ensure consumers are provided with timely and relevant information when making purchase decisions and that drip pricing does not undermine consumer confidence when purchasing rail tickets online.’<\/p>\n
The 12 retailers found to charge booking and\/or finder’s fees were MyTrainTicket, Omio, Rail Europe, Railboard, Raileasy, Sojo, Split my fare, Train Hugger, Trainline, Trainpal, Trainsplit and TrainTickets.com.<\/p>\n
A Department for Business and Trade consultation into price transparency, including drip pricing, closed in October.<\/p>\n