Latest news with #transparentpricing
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Déménagement Total Transforms Moving Services in Montreal
08/15/2025, Montreal, Quebec // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // In an industry where trust, reliability, and efficiency matter most, Déménagement Montréal is redefining what customers can expect from a compagnie de déménagement. Based in Montreal, the leading moving company combines innovative practices with a customer-first philosophy, making it a top choice for individuals, families, and businesses in the region. One of the key innovations driving its success is a fully transparent pricing system. Gone are the days of hidden fees and unpleasant surprises — clients receive accurate, upfront quotes that reflect the actual scope of their déménagement. The company's pricing structure is clear and easy to understand, ensuring customers know exactly what they're paying for, whether it's a local residential move, an intercity relocation, or specialized services for offices and commercial spaces. Another standout feature of Déménagement Montréal is its real-time tracking. Customers can monitor their move from start to finish, providing peace of mind and allowing them to plan their day without uncertainty. This advanced system keeps clients informed about the exact location of their belongings, ensuring punctuality and reducing stress throughout the process. In addition, Déménagement Total is leading the way in sustainability. Its eco-friendly practices include using reusable moving blankets, minimizing waste, and operating fuel-efficient vehicles. These initiatives not only protect the environment but also align with the growing demand for greener moving solutions in Montreal. Testimonials from satisfied customers highlight the company's professionalism and efficiency. One client shared, 'The movers were punctual, careful with my belongings, and the pricing was exactly what they quoted—no surprises. I felt in control and informed the entire time.' Another noted, 'It was the smoothest move I've ever experienced. Real-time tracking kept me updated, and the eco-friendly approach was a big plus.' With a team of skilled déménageurs Montréal trained to handle all types of relocations, Déménagement Total has built a reputation for excellence across Montreal and beyond. Its crews manage everything from packing fragile items to safely transporting heavy furniture, ensuring every client receives a stress-free experience. Déménagement Total offers a full range of services, including residential moves, commercial relocations, long-distance moving, piano transportation, pool table moving, and furniture assembly. The company serves not only Montreal but also surrounding regions, providing professional déménageur Montréal support for clients moving across Quebec or even to other provinces. Déménagement Total has become a preferred compagnie de déménagement Montréal because of its flexibility. Whether it is a small apartment move or a large-scale corporate relocation, the team applies the same high standards and personalized planning to meet each client's needs. From selecting the right truck size to navigating peak-season scheduling, they provide solutions that save time, money, and effort. To learn more about Déménagement Total, visit About Déménagement Total Déménagement Total is a trusted moving company based in Montreal, Canada, offering innovative and eco-conscious relocation services for residential and commercial clients. With a skilled team and a customer-focused approach, it delivers smooth, efficient moves across Quebec and beyond. ### Media Contact Déménagement Total 285 Rue Quinlan, Montréal, QC H8R 3W4, Canada (514) 652-7955 Source published by Submit Press Release >> Déménagement Total Transforms Moving Services in Montreal
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Expert Calls Out Southwest Airlines For 'Psychological Tricks' on Customers
For decades, Southwest Airlines was known and praised as a consumer-friendly option for travelers with transparent pricing, a democratic open-seating model, as well as the beloved "bags fly free" policy. But as one expert points out, that is no longer the case. Throughout the past several months, Southwest Airlines has made sweeping changes to its brand identity as the airline has begun charging for baggage, is moving forward with plans to end open seating and charge customers for seating assignments, and appears to be on the verge of some very unpopular changes to its Rapid Rewards loyalty program. In an attempt to boost profits, the once customer-friendly airline has now resorted to many of the same "psychological tricks" that other airlines use to extract as much money out of the consumer as possible, as one expert explains. "Southwest built their brand on transparency - they called it 'Transfarency' - but now they're adopting the same psychological tricks that other airlines use to extract more money from travelers," said Jovan Babovic, a user experience design expert from Tenscope, which studies how companies influence consumer behavior. Babovic and Tenscope describe these tactics as "dark patterns," which are design practices that subtly and deceptively steer customers toward higher-priced options, taking advantage of psychological tricks. Some of these tricks include advertising lower base fares while charging separately for previously included services (like checked bags and seat assignments), as well as artificial complexity for customers to be upsold, tiered access to push customers toward opening credit cards or joining loyalty programs, and urgency tactics to convince customers to make quick decisions. While these tactics may not be well received by the customer, they do typically increase revenue by 15-25 percent per passenger, as Tenscope points out. "These aren't accidents - they're carefully designed to take advantage of how people naturally make decisions when booking travel," Babovic explained. "The travel industry has essentially normalized what we call 'dark patterns' because they're so effective at driving revenue." While these tactics are common in the industry, it's particularly jarring to see Southwest Airlines embrace them. "What's significant about Southwest's transformation is how it demonstrates that even the most customer-centric business models eventually adopt these manipulation tactics," Babovic said. "It shows how normalized these practices have become - companies feel they need to use psychological tricks to remain competitive. "For consumers, this means you can no longer trust that any airline offers truly transparent pricing. The 'dark patterns' playbook has become standard across the industry because it works so well financially, even if it makes traveling more frustrating and expensive for everyone." Clearly, Southwest Airlines is going in a different direction, and that isn't necessarily good news for travelers. Expert Calls Out Southwest Airlines For 'Psychological Tricks' on Customers first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 15, 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘This was a principle thing': Colorado man fights back after emergency hospital stay results in $104K bill
Blake Pfeifer of Colorado Springs is calling on hospitals to uphold their legal requirements for transparent pricing. Pfeifer underwent emergency stomach surgery at the University of Colorado Health Memorial Hospital Central in 2022 and was surprised when bills for his week-long stay just kept coming. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) 'We literally had bills scattered all over the floor and it covered the entire office,' Dawn Pfeifer, Blake's wife, shared with NBC News. Pfeifer was originally charged $104,000 for his hospital stay, which was reduced to $58,124 as he would be paying out of pocket. However, more bills kept arriving, and Pfeifer's attempts to contact the hospital for clarity on the charges reportedly went nowhere. 'I've always paid my bills,' Pfeifer, 63, told NBC News. 'I wanted a little better explanation.' Unfortunately, patient advocate groups say that Pfeifer's experience is quite common. 'Hospitals and insurance companies alike have even hired many middle-player firms to be able to maximize their margins and profits at every single patient encounter,' Cynthia Fisher, founder of told NBC News. 'Sometimes what we're finding is the charges like Blake's that are billed are far beyond even the highest rate that they have within their hospital pricing file.' Fisher told NBC News that hospital billing systems seem to be 'intentionally complex.' NBC noted that under Colorado law, hospitals that violate the federal price transparency rule — which went into effect in 2021 — are liable to be penalized for deceptive trade practices. The law requires hospitals to clearly state pricing on their respective websites. However, NBC News found that a number of Pfeifer's bills are higher than the hospital's listed prices, including $99 for a blood culture that was listed between $8 and $61 for insured patients, and $104 apiece for a series of 10 blood tests that should cost anywhere between $6.52 and $52.89 per test, based on the hospital's website. In fact, NBC News found that only 25% of the charges Pfeifer received were listed on the hospital's required price list. 'What happened to Mr. Pfeifer unfortunately repeats itself and plays out across the country thousands of times every year,' said Steve Woodrow, Pfeifer's lawyer and a Democratic member of the Colorado House of Representatives. 'We now have a situation where people are afraid to get medical care because of the financial ramifications.' Dan Weaver, a spokesman for UCHealth, said in a statement shared with NBC News that the health system 'does everything possible to share prices and estimates with our patients, encourage insurance coverage, assist patients in applying for Medicaid and other programs that may offer coverage.' Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it NBC found that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had penalized only 27 hospitals for non-compliance with transparent billing practices in the last four years since the law took effect. However, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General found in 2024 that only 63 out of 100 hospitals studied were up-to-date with price transparency requirements. Furthermore, a study from The Commonwealth Fund found that over 45% of working-age adults in the U.S. who had insurance were charged for a health service that they thought was covered by their insurer. NBC also interviewed Damon Carson, a small-business owner in Colorado who was sued by a collection company after he refused to pay the additional bills that started rolling in after his outpatient endoscopy at a UCHealth hospital. Carson was originally quoted $1,448 for the procedure and paid upfront, out of pocket, but was later charged an additional $4,742. In mediation, his additional bills were reduced by one-third to settle the case. 'I was surprised they caved that fast,' Carson told NBC News. '[My wife] and I could easily have paid the $4,000 and our lives gone on. But this was a principle thing.' The American Journal of Managed Care reported on 'pervasive billing errors' and 'aggressive tactics' in the health care and insurance industries in 2024. Dr. Jeffrey Sippel, associate director of inpatient clinical services and associate professor of clinical medicine in the Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine Division at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said he's been overwhelmed with denied insurance claims from Medicare Advantage plans. 'It's driven by money,' said Sippel in an article on The American Journal of Managed Care's website. 'It's driven by a lack of appreciation of how dynamic these patients are, and how quickly they can change from sort of stable to doing quite poorly.' These overbilling practices are all the more troubling considering how much the federal government spends on health care in the United States. Data from the World Health Organization shows the U.S. government spends approximately double what other G7 nations spend on health care per citizen. In 2021, the U.S. spent $12,000 per person on health care while the average spend for other G7 countries was between $4,400 and $7,600. Canada, for example, reportedly spent $6,600 per person on health care, while the U.K. was at $6,200 per citizen. So, what can you do if you find yourself with additional bills piling up after a hospital stay? In Colorado, patients can sue a hospital for instigating debt collection proceedings against them if they believe the hospital violated price transparency laws. If you find yourself in a dispute over a hospital bill, advocate for yourself and insist on a clear explanation of your charges. In fact, Fisher has some strategic advice for anyone facing charges after a stay in the hospital. 'No one should ever pay that first bill,' she told NBC News. 'The onus of proof needs to be on the hospital and the insurance company to prove that they have not overcharged us.' The CMS also advises patients to shop around for their health care and compare prices and price transparency practices between hospitals to avoid higher-than-necessary bills. Finally, it's best to keep your primary care physician involved in the process, as they may be able to help advocate for you and offer additional information on finding accessible health care. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. 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