Dendy Cinema Pty Ltd has faced a penalty of $19,800 after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued an infringement notice for alleged violations of the Australian Consumer Law. The ACCC claims that Dendy did not prominently display the total price of movie tickets, including mandatory booking fees, at the beginning of the online booking process.

Instead of showing the total price upfront, Dendy displayed ticket prices that excluded the unavoidable booking fee, only revealing the complete price at the final stages of the transaction. ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe emphasized the importance of businesses being transparent about the total minimum price of their products or services to enable informed consumer decisions.

The ACCC is also investigating pricing practices across the cinema industry to ensure compliance with consumer law regarding the presentation of booking fees. Lowe urged all businesses to review their online pricing strategies to meet legal obligations, particularly in displaying total prices early in the purchasing process.

This enforcement action aligns with the ACCC's Compliance and Enforcement Priorities for 2025-26, which includes addressing misleading surcharging practices. The ACCC has previously taken legal action against other companies, such as Webjet Marketing Pty Ltd, for similar breaches of consumer law.