Every Friday, Consumer Reporter Lynda Steele dips into the mailbag to answer your questions. This week, Steele on Your Side investigates fuel surcharges at Canada Post and an added fee at The Bay.
Fuel surcharge
Mike recently sent a package with Canada Post. It cost $12.22 and a 55 cent fuel surcharge was added on. With falling gas prices, he wants to know why Canada Post still has a fuel surcharge.
Canada Post says all of its competitors have fuel surcharges and it adjusts the charge according to changes in fuel prices on the first Monday of each month.
The corporation uses gas prices from two months prior to decide that charge. That means the gas prices in November 2014 would determine the fuel surcharge right now, and December's prices will be reflected in February's adjustment.
In the past month, the fuel surcharge has dropped by one per cent and with falling gas prices it would appear next month’s surcharge will also be reduced.
Extra fee at the Bay?
Joan wrote Steele on Your Side after she went to buy a kettle for a wedding shower. At the checkout she was charged an additional $1 which was coded as a "floor charge" on her receipt. She says the cashier told her it was a new fee for in-stock items.
The Bay told CTV News this was a miscommunication, and that the fee was actually an environmental handling fee that came into effect in 2011.
Retailers are mandated to collect the fee to fund recycling of the product.
The Bay says it is now updating how this fee is listed on its receipts to ensure it is clear to customers.
