Have you ever fallen for "special" promotion? Have you bought a product to get a "free" gift? Have you rented a car because of "discount" rate? If so, you've been a victim of deceptive marketing practices.

Some marketers seek to entice customers by offering something that seems really good. Usually, it's a special price or a discount or a "bonus." What they fail to mention is that you may have to pay extra for the bonus (many cosmetic brands do this) or that the special price doesn't include something that you are required to pay.

Recently, I fell for a "special" from Thrifty. I was planning a trip to Boston, and researching rental cars when I got an email from the car rental company offering a 30% discount. This made the base fare for a rental car in Boston much better than the competition. It seemed a no-brainer.

Last Friday, after landing in Boston, I got to the counter at Thrifty to find out that in addition to my discounted rate, I would be forced to pay a $11.99 per day toll charge for each day I rented the car. Massachusetts has joined other states in getting rid of toll booths (and jobs for toll collectors, but I digress) and instituting an all-electronic system. You need an E-Z Pass to pay, or else the toll authority will take a picture of your plates and send you a bill.

Deception 1: Not telling me the true cost of my rental

Deception 2: Not providing enough information

&nbsp;

And I have an E-Z Pass but did not know the situation in Boston (I haven't been there in several years). And at no point in the reservation process did Thrifty tell me that Boston was a place that has all electronic tolls. They also did not disclose the fee for the toll charge. And so I was doubly deceived. Had I known, I could have brought my own EZ Pass. And given the charge is lower at other car rental companies, I may have chosen one of them..

&nbsp;