Here’s a detailed alignment of the evidence and document sections to support the claim of “Hidden Taxes and Fees,” using Exhibits A to N and Exhibits 1 to 34:

 

Alignment of Exhibits with "Hidden Taxes and Fees"

Exhibit Reference

Description

Relevance to Claim

Exhibit A

Trip.com Booking Confirmation

Highlights the advertised pricing during the booking process, which lacked transparency in showing additional taxes and fees.

Exhibit G

Text Version of Trip.com Invoice

Provides detailed payment breakdown showing a discrepancy between advertised prices and final charges, illustrating hidden costs.

Exhibit O

Trip.com Website Analysis

Examines how Trip.com's website failed to present a clear breakdown of charges, leaving customers unaware of hidden taxes and fees during booking.

Exhibit 1

Screenshots of Trip.com Farecards

Captures grayed-out sections for "Ticket fare" and "Taxes & Fees," showing how critical price details were deliberately obscured during booking.

Exhibit 15

Website Text Capturing Inconsistent Pricing

Demonstrates discrepancies between advertised fares and final charges, providing evidence of misleading and unclear practices regarding taxes and fees.

 

Relevant Sections of the Document Supporting the Claim

Section Title

Details Supporting "Hidden Taxes and Fees"

Background Information

Highlights how Trip.com advertised a specific price during booking but charged a higher amount due to hidden taxes and additional fees, without explanation.

Booking Process

Describes how Trip.com's platform failed to provide an itemized breakdown of costs, making it impossible to understand the basis for the final charges.

Analysis and Findings

Emphasizes the failure of Trip.com to clearly articulate fees and taxes, which resulted in unexpected financial burdens for passengers.

Website Evaluation

Reviews specific examples of how critical pricing components were obscured or unavailable, contributing to confusion about total costs.

 

Key Evidence from "Exhibits 1 to 34"

Exhibit #

Details

Exhibit 1

Screenshot of booking interface showing unclear "Taxes & Fees" with grayed-out pricing components.

Exhibit 6

Payment confirmation email highlighting discrepancies between what was displayed during booking and the final amount charged.

Exhibit 15

Text from Trip.com’s platform identifying inconsistencies in advertised versus actual pricing.

Exhibit 18

Website analysis identifying systemic flaws in how Trip.com presented pricing, including hidden charges.

 

Key Points of Hidden Taxes and Fees

  1. Price Discrepancies: Advertised fares (e.g., £205) were increased (e.g., £216.90) without justification or explanation, resulting in unexpected financial burdens.
  2. Obscured Details: Critical pricing information, such as "Taxes & Fees," was hidden or presented in a way that was difficult to access and interpret during booking.
  3. Lack of Itemized Breakdowns: Trip.com’s failure to provide a clear breakdown of charges left customers unable to verify what they were paying for.
  4. Misleading Practices: Systematic use of grayed-out sections and vague terminology obscured the true cost of services, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction.

This comprehensive alignment connects the “Hidden Taxes and Fees” claim with specific evidence and document sections, ensuring a robust presentation.