Rep. Deluzio and Bellevue Small Business Call for Action Against Surprise “Junk Fees” to Lower Costs for Families

BELLEVUE, PA — Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) joined local businesses today to highlight the impact of surprise “junk fees” on local businesses in Western Pennsylvania and to highlight the ongoing work of the Biden Administration and congressional Democrats to end rip-off fees and lower costs for people. Showcasing the story of a local business that paid hundreds per year in surprise fees, Rep. Deluzio spoke out against this deceptive pricing that hurts both small businesses and consumers and called for continued action. 

“Small businesses are the engines behind our economy here in Western Pennsylvania, and surprise junk fees add costs to the consumer while giving zero benefit to businesses like Tavern Pizza. It’s a lose-lose situation for our local economy,” said Rep. Deluzio. “To lower costs for folks, we have to crack down on massive corporations that are imposing rip-off junk fees on everything from take-out meals to cable bills to rent and mortgage payments.” 

The Biden Administration and congressional Democrats have made it a priority to lower costs by ending surprise junk fees, and the Administration has already taken executive action to rein in ticketing fees and medical fees and has marshaled the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Trade Commission to go after fees in banking, airlines, and more. Congressional Democrats have offered legislation to further crack down on junk fees—going beyond actions that can be done by the executive branch. For example, Congressman Deluzio is a cosponsor of the Fair Fees Act of 2023. 

Junk fees associated with everyday purchases and payments like event tickets, cable bills, rental applications, ATMs, travel, and bank overdraft charges cost working families hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. According to a 2019 Consumer Reports study, at least 85% of Americans have experienced a hidden or unexpected fee for a service in the previous two years.

Congressman Deluzio was joined by Andrew Marciniak, the General Manager at a local Bellevue restaurant, Tavern Pizza. Hidden fees have real and tangible consequences, and Mr. Marciniak has seen them firsthand. Tavern Pizza was formerly Maxwell’s Pizza in Bellevue, but increasing prices from delivery apps drove away customers while barely covering costs to the business.

“Since the pandemic, fees and prices increased on delivery apps and we had zero control over them,” shared Andrew Marciniak. "Not every business can make the shift like we did, and I know that a lot of other businesses are still struggling and hurting because of these hidden fees from many delivery apps. I’m thankful that Rep. Deluzio and the Biden Administration are bringing attention to this issue, and that my Congressman is fighting down in Congress to help more small businesses like Tavern Pizza keep our doors open. By ending junk fees—in the restaurant industry and in so many others—we can protect local business like mine and keep our local economy strong." 

Photos of the event are available here.

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