Americans have had enough and want these 13 things gone for good.
There comes a point when minor annoyances become full-blown grievances. In recent years, Americans have grown increasingly vocal about the everyday frustrations, outdated practices, and deceptive systems that continue to infiltrate their lives. From invasive phone calls to overpriced ticket resales, the public is losing patience with systems designed to exploit, manipulate, or simply waste time. These aren’t just inconveniences anymore—they’ve become flashpoints for real frustration and change.
Whether it’s because of technology evolving faster than the laws that govern it or corporate greed pushing boundaries further every year, there are certain things Americans are unified in wanting to see vanish forever. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes and muttered, “Why is this still a thing?”, you’re not alone. Here are 13 widespread irritations people across the country are more than ready to kick to the curb.
1. Robocalls Are Out of Control and Need to Be Banned Now
There’s nothing quite like the rage of hearing your phone ring, rushing to pick it up, only to hear a robotic voice hawking a fake car warranty or urging you to “press 1 for urgent action.” Robocalls are a daily nuisance for millions, and despite blocking numbers or joining the Do Not Call registry, these calls persist with relentless determination, as stated by Derek B. Johnson at Cyberscoop. Scammers exploit automated systems and spoofed numbers, often targeting the elderly or vulnerable with cruel scams designed to steal money or personal information.
Americans are beyond fed up. The calls don’t just interrupt—they erode trust in our phones as tools for genuine connection. Even with government pledges to crack down, little progress seems visible to the average person. People are longing for a day when phones ring only for reasons that actually matter—when the sound of a ringtone doesn’t spike anxiety. Robocalls aren’t just annoying; they’ve become a symbol of systemic failure. It’s time to shut them down for good.
2. Hidden Fees Are Draining Wallets and Should Be Illegal
Booking a hotel, purchasing a flight, or buying concert tickets has turned into a game of financial whack-a-mole, with surprise fees popping up just as you think you’re done. The initial price is rarely the final one, thanks to vague “convenience fees,” “resort charges,” or “processing fees” that inflate costs well beyond what was advertised. This practice leaves customers feeling tricked, with many expressing that pricing transparency has all but vanished in modern commerce, Atty. Rob Bonta at the State of California Department of Justice shared.
Americans are tired of this financial sleight of hand. It’s not just an annoyance—it’s a breach of trust. People want to know exactly what they’re paying for, without having to navigate a maze of small print and unexpected add-ons. If California can start outlawing these deceptive practices, other states should follow suit. Transparency shouldn’t be optional, and consumers shouldn’t need a calculator and a lawyer just to buy a plane ticket or book a room.
3. Daylight Saving Time Is Pointless and Needs to Go
Twice a year, Americans groan collectively as they adjust their clocks and attempt to recalibrate their internal rhythms. Daylight Saving Time, originally introduced under the guise of conserving energy, has become a tired tradition with questionable benefits, as mentioned by writers at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. In reality, it disrupts sleep, causes confusion, and even correlates with spikes in car accidents and health problems following the time shift.
Despite growing bipartisan support for its elimination, change has been slow. States like Florida and Washington have made efforts to stick with one time year-round, but the country remains stuck in a cycle that feels increasingly pointless. Americans want consistency, especially in a world already full of chaos. The days of arbitrarily “springing forward” or “falling back” have outlived their usefulness—it’s time for a permanent shift to sanity.
4. Influencers Promoting Scam Products Need to Be Stopped
With millions of followers and polished social media feeds, influencers have become powerful marketing tools. But too many are using that power to peddle questionable supplements, bogus financial advice, and downright fraudulent products. Viewers trust their recommendations, only to be duped out of their money, sometimes with devastating consequences. It’s a modern twist on snake oil salesmen—and it’s gotten completely out of hand.
What’s worse is that many of these influencers never use the products they promote. They prioritize profit over integrity, turning their platforms into vehicles of deception. Americans are calling for tighter regulations and real accountability. Influencers who mislead should face consequences—not just a slap on the wrist. Trust in digital platforms is crumbling, and if these platforms won’t police their own, then the public is more than ready for laws that do.
5. Shrinkflation Is Robbing Consumers and Needs to Be Outlawed
It’s the quiet scam in every grocery aisle: packages look the same, but there’s less inside. Chips have fewer servings, cereal boxes are lighter, and toilet paper rolls seem to vanish faster. This isn’t inflation—it’s shrinkflation, and it’s how companies raise profits without raising prices. Consumers feel tricked, noticing that their money doesn’t stretch as far even though the price tag hasn’t changed.
People aren’t just annoyed—they feel betrayed. Instead of honest price hikes, companies sneakily reduce product size, counting on customers not to notice until it’s too late. Transparency is badly needed, and Americans are demanding that companies disclose changes in quantity just as clearly as they advertise prices. It’s not about the chips—it’s about respect for the people paying for them.
6. Junk Fees at Banks Are a Ripoff and Should Be Gone by Now
Banking is supposed to be a service, not a trap. Yet for many Americans, opening an account feels like walking into a financial minefield. Overdraft fees, maintenance charges, and ATM surcharges add up quickly, often targeting those who can least afford them. Some banks even manipulate transaction order to trigger more overdrafts, maximizing profit at customers’ expense.
This isn’t just bad business—it’s predatory. Americans are sick of financial institutions profiting from the missteps and vulnerabilities of their customers. There’s a growing consensus that basic banking should be fair and transparent. If banks can’t function without these junk fees, maybe it’s time to rethink how banking works. Trust in the system is eroding, and people are demanding better.
7. Fake Service Animals Are a Growing Problem and Need to Be Stopped
Service animals provide life-changing assistance to people with disabilities. But when people start slapping fake vests on untrained pets just to bring them into stores or on planes, it cheapens that legitimacy. These impostor animals are often disruptive or even aggressive, creating chaos and skepticism that real service animal users must then face.
It’s not just rude—it’s harmful. Businesses are caught in the middle, unsure how to enforce rules without risking backlash or legal trouble. Meanwhile, people who truly rely on trained service dogs face increased scrutiny and discrimination. Americans want clearer guidelines and stronger enforcement to ensure that the system supports those who genuinely need it—not those trying to exploit it for convenience.
8. Ticket Resellers Are Ruining Events and Need to Be Shut Down
Trying to buy tickets for a favorite band or big game has become an exercise in futility. Bots and scalpers scoop up massive blocks of tickets the instant they go on sale, only to resell them at exorbitant markups. The result? Regular fans get locked out while scalpers turn public events into private profit machines.
This isn’t just disappointing—it’s infuriating. Americans believe tickets should go to fans, not profiteers with algorithms. Calls are growing louder for legislation that limits reselling and mandates face-value pricing for resales. If people can’t enjoy live experiences without paying double or triple the price, what’s the point of public events at all?
9. Telemarketers Are Still Harassing People and Should Be Banned for Good
Despite the promises of the Do Not Call registry, the calls haven’t stopped. Telemarketers continue to disrupt dinner, relaxation, and even sleep with pitches nobody asked for. Some represent real companies, but far too many are outright scams, aiming to exploit the unwary or elderly for personal gain.
Americans are over it. Unsolicited calls feel like an invasion of privacy, especially in a world where other forms of communication are readily available. People want real penalties for violators and better enforcement of existing rules. It’s 2025—no one should be forced to screen calls just to avoid harassment from strangers trying to sell them something they never wanted.
10. Fast Food Ice Cream Machines Always Being Broken Is a National Disgrace
It’s almost a running joke at this point: go to a fast food restaurant craving a milkshake or soft-serve cone, only to hear the dreaded words, “The machine’s down.” For years, this issue has persisted across major chains, frustrating customers and sparking countless memes. But the reality behind the humor is poor equipment design, costly repairs, and maintenance practices that seem deliberately opaque.
This isn’t just about ice cream—it’s about basic expectations. If a business advertises a product, they should be able to provide it consistently. Americans are tired of being turned away or told to “try again tomorrow.” Some are even calling for regulatory oversight to ensure that advertised menu items are reliably available. Because really—how hard is it to keep a machine running?
11. Cars That Require a Subscription for Features Are a Scam
Buying a car used to mean you owned all its features, but now automakers are getting greedy. Drivers are discovering that built-in features like heated seats or remote start are locked behind monthly subscriptions, even though the hardware is already there. It’s a blatant money grab, and people are starting to notice.
This model turns ownership into endless renting. Americans are pushing back, arguing that if they buy the car, they should get everything it offers—no strings attached. These nickel-and-dime schemes threaten to redefine consumer rights in the worst way. If this trend isn’t stopped now, it could reshape the future of car ownership in a way that benefits corporations, not customers.
12. Junk Mail Is Annoying and Should Be Illegal Already
Every week, homes across the country fill up with credit card offers, pizza coupons, and ads nobody asked for. Junk mail is a waste of time and paper, and most of it ends up in the trash without even being opened. It’s an environmental disaster and a daily annoyance wrapped into one.
People are asking: why can’t junk mail be treated like email spam? Americans want the right to opt out entirely, not just recycle their way through marketing they never invited into their homes. It’s time to bring physical mail into the modern era and give people control over what shows up in their mailbox.
13. Companies Releasing Broken Products and “Fixing” Them Later Is Unacceptable
In a rush to meet deadlines and profits, companies are releasing products that feel more like rough drafts than finished goods. Video games launch with major bugs, phones glitch constantly, and even new cars roll out with recalls waiting in the wings. The industry’s response? “We’ll fix it later.”
That’s not good enough anymore. Americans want quality at launch—not patches, updates, and apologies. Consumers shouldn’t be beta testers after paying full price. Companies must be held accountable for delivering complete, functional products from day one. If they can’t do that, they don’t deserve people’s money—or their trust.