Full list of firms that are using sneaky pricing tactics to get you to pay more

Some of the UK’s busiest driving schools are under investigation over sneaky pricing.

The AA Driving School and BSM Driving School have been accused of not clearly including their ‘mandatory fees’ online until the end of the purchase process on their websites.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking at whether the company which runs the schools, Automobile Association Developments Limited, has breached consumer protection law.

It comes as learner drivers are facing many challenges booking lessons and taking their tests after the pandemic created a significant backlog.

Many struggle to compete with third-party websites used to scoop up slots and sell them at a premium.

Last week the government announced military examiners will be brought in to help clear the waiting list. The Department for Transport partnership with the Ministry of Defence aims to see thousands more tests provided where demand is the highest in the next year.

The CMA has been writing to businesses to outline concerns about online sales tactics such as mandatory additional fees.

An AA Driving School spokesperson said: ‘We are comfortable that the £3 booking fee for lessons is already transparent and in line with the CMA’s rules and are more than happy to additionally notify customers earlier in the journey as well, which we have already done.’

But it is not just driving schools which are being investigated by the CMA. Gold’s Gym is also under investigation over introducing its one-off sign up fee halfway through the process.

Homeware retailers Wayfair, Appliances Direct and Marks Electrical are being investigated on pricing practices. This includes whether time-limited sales ended when the companies said they would and if customers are being automatically opted in to purchasing additional services.

StubHub and Viagogo are also under review ‘regarding the mandatory additional charges applied when consumers buy tickets – and whether or not these fees are included upfront’.

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, said: ‘At a time when household budgets are under constant pressure and we’re all hunting for the best deal possible, it’s crucial that people are able to shop online with confidence, knowing that the price they see is the price they’ll pay, and any sales are genuine.

‘Whether you’re spending your hard-earned cash on concert tickets or driving lessons, joining a gym or buying furniture and appliances for your home, you deserve a fair deal.

‘It’s our job to protect consumers from misleading prices and illegal pressure selling and today marks an important milestone as we take action across the economy to make sure businesses do the right thing by their customers.

‘Since the launch of the new regime, we’ve been working hard to help businesses understand the law. But alongside supporting businesses to comply, we’ve always been clear that we will take swift action where we suspect potentially serious breaches of the law.

‘This is just the start of our work. Any businesses who break consumer law should be in no doubt we will stamp out illegal conduct and protect the interests of consumers and fair-dealing businesses.’

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