Over a year ago Holly Teska went viral on TikTok for exposing this new business practice and asked viewers to explain what this was about.
Colorado’s 9 News went out to investigate these PIF fees and found that at all the stores they examined, investigator ‘Steve On Your Side’ noted that each store was tacking on a few additional cents for the items purchased.
A public improvement fee is just like a tax. But it’s not a tax. It’s a privately imposed fee, which is imposed through a covenant.
The goal is to help finance improvements on the property. It’s another financing vehicle for the developer.
Said Jeff Peshut, an assistant professor at Metro State University of Denver and a real estate lawyer.
Colorado businesses have apparently been doing this for years, but very few appears to have noticed. Denver 7 reported on it in 2022 and KOAA News 5 also covered PIFs in 2021.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
“Public improvement?” More like additional toy money the managers and corporatists can spend on.
The greed with these businesses and corporations continues to get more and ridiculous. Sure, it may just be only a few pennies for an item, but that adds up very quickly; and in the course of just one day one could imagine just how much extra money that store took in.
It’s no different than the obscene tipping craze that’s also gotten out of control, with companies and restaurants asking customers to tip the automated and self-checkout machines. All of this is nothing short of plain-down greed.
SEE: Businesses Offering Self-Checkouts Are Now Asking For Tips As Economy Crumbles
Isaiah 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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You have to careful with on-line shopping too. They impose mysterious fees, which you can decline, but if you don’t, those additional fees will go through.
Job 27:13-15
13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.
14 If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.