They could renew their visas, but only by paying extortionate fees and fines.

A small group of companies known as unloaders dictates how fish and seafood are unloaded and charges "extortionate fees," he said.

They pay extortionate fees to Chinese-American gangs, who arrange for them to be picked up in Hong Kong.

Out of power or out to lunch - the same place they were while a few owners of television cables hoarded precious channels for their own programming and charged extortionate fees to let their competitors aboard.

Each time it happened, I prayed that someone, somewhere, would be in such desperate need of a linguist they'd overlook Paul's extortionate fees and hire him for a long, long-term project off planet.

Private landlords with shoddy houses and flats, forcing tenants to pay for products and services not offered, rental agents changing extortionate fees that are never returned on time and sometimes never at all.

Despite the extortionate fees he charged, it was more common than not for a four-engined jet to be put at his disposal to get him to the scene of the disaster as quickly as possible.

They sell it, at inflated prices, to customers who have no choice but to pay their extortionate fees.

And all for an extortionate fee: $11.50 for the first hour at Mr. Simmons's garage, $24.50 maximum for 24 hours.

It's technically possible to drive here along a small causeway, but the land owner is now charging extortionate fees for crossing his property.