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Wed, 15 Apr 2026

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 AA and BSM ordered to refund learner drivers for hidden fees

The owner of the driving schools has been fined for failing to disclose fees upfront online.

* AA and BSM driving schools must pay refunds to over 80,000 learners after failing to disclose total lesson price upfront during online booking.
* Affected customers will share £760,000, with an average payout of around £9.
* Automobile Association Developments (AAD) has been fined £4.2m for breaking consumer law through "drip pricing".
* The CMA's investigation found that prices did not include a mandatory booking fee until the checkout stage, adding to the total cost.
* The practice is known as "drip pricing" and is illegal, as it can mislead customers into choosing a service or product at a lower price than expected.
* AAD has admitted to breaking the law and agreed to settle the case early, receiving a 40% reduction on the penalty.
* Customers will receive full refunds of booking fees paid without needing to take any action.
* The CMA's chief executive said that if a fee is mandatory, it must be included in the price from the start, not added at checkout.