CCCS sets out price transparency guidelines

It will require suppliers to include mandatory fees in the headline price.

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) proposed a set of guidelines on price transparency for both online and offline transactions following a market study in the online travel booking sector, according to a media release.

Subject to public feedback until 21 October, the consumer watchdog is proposing to require suppliers to include mandatory fees in the total headline prices of their products or services.

The guidelines will also require businesses to clearly disclose the goods and services placed in pre-ticked boxes, represent price comparisons with other suppliers accurately, use actual previous price in representing discount, and use the term “free” only for referring to a $0 price.

Additionally, it will expound on what infringes the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act and how suppliers are expected to display and advertise prices. It will also provide some factors in assessing displayed prices and pricing practices as either transparent or misleading.

The market study revealed that providers were observed to practice drip pricing that obscured mandatory and optional prices, use of pre-ticked boxes, strikethrough pricing, and pressure selling by use of misleading claims.