Customers will not be presented with hidden prices or charges and the amount of Goods and Services Tax must be clearly displayed under a proposed Single Pricing Policy, a news report said.

Star Online quoted an unnamed source as saying that “there have been many instances where the consumer actually ended up paying a lot more for a product or service than what was displayed or advertised”.

These additional charges are usually hidden in the fine print or disclaimers that comes with the purchase.

Businesses that would be affected are those in food and beverage, tourism, telecommunications, on-line businesses, health and pharmaceutical, recreational and entertainment, banking and financial services, retail and transport.

If the new policy is approved, businesses must only advertise the full and exact price inclusive of all other hidden charges and taxes.

Hotels could no longer advertise a room for RM270 for which the customer would actually pay RM314.82 after adding RM27 service charge and RM17.82 in GST. Airlines could no longer advertise a ticket for RM206 where the customer would actually pay at least RM368.90 with taxes and other fees.

The new policy would require an amendment to the Trade Descriptions Act before it could be carried out.

The official was quoted as saying that the new policy would ensure better ethical business practices and promote fair competition.

Customers would be better able to chose among products or services, he was quoted as saying.