the.com/fees
the price of doing business, charged for doing barely anything.
means a fee is a charge for a service, real or imagined, distinct from the price of the thing itself.
from from old french feu or fie, meaning feudal estate or payment for service to a lord, rooted in medieval latin feodum, land granted in exchange for loyalty — fees have always been about paying for permission.
convenience feecharged for the privilege of paying at all
resort feemandatory, yet somehow still called optional
bank overdraftcan exceed the amount you overdrew
airline baggage feesearned airlines over 30 billion in 2023
for instance
ticketmaster service fee — can add 30 percent to a concert ticket price
atm withdrawal fee — banks charge twice, yours and theirs, for one withdrawal
credit card late fee — capped at 8 dollars by a 2024 cfpb rule, then blocked in court