Is Priceline fee now $6?

[Gregg]

I won a bid on the 19th and the taxes and fees were $12.08. On the 20th I added two additional days (the first bid was two days also) and now the taxes and fees show as $12.13. Did Priceline bump their fee a nickel to an even $6 as of the 20th?

Candlewood Suites-Chicago Hoffman Estates

Check-In Date: Monday, September 22, 2003

Check-Out Date: Friday, September 26, 2003

Check-In Date: Monday, September 22, 2003

Check-Out Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 2

Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $25.00

Subtotal: $50.00

Taxes and Service Fees: $12.08

Total Charges for Original Reservation: $62.08

Here is the itinerary for your additional nights reservation. You may have to change rooms for your additional nights. Please ask the front-desk agent at check-in for details.

Check-In Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Check-Out Date: Friday, September 26, 2003

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 2

Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $25.00

Subtotal: $50.00

Taxes and Service Fees: $12.13

Total Charges for Add. Nights Res.: $62.13

[thereuare]

The fee is no longer a fixed amount, and is variable based upon the bid amount and tax rate. I do understand this still doesn't totally explain your situation since the bid amount and taxes were the same for each 'win', but this is an example of why so many people complained about the change in fee structure... everything is now combined together and they basically can charge/compute the fee however they like (although the total amount is shown before you purchase). In the majority of instances, this new structure has also made the fee greater than the previous $5.95 (the exception is one nite stays with a low bid amount).

Again, this combining of fees and taxes is bad for the consumer. Whenever the price of something is 'lumped' together and an individual breakdown is not given, it opens up the door for hidden and incorrect costs.

[Gregg]

I wasn't aware the Priceline fee was variable now but from what I understand, taxes are based on the price that I bid and won, not the price that Priceline pays. I think it used to be based on what Priceline paid for the room but not anymore.

Maybe I should email Priceline and ask where my nickel goes. :)

[thereuare]

I forgot to post this link earlier which discusses this in detail:

Priceline Combines Taxes and Fees

I would email them asking for an explantion, but my guess is that you'll get a generic canned reply that only explains that taxes and fees are added to your bid amount.