Tips for identifying, reporting gouging
Hundreds of complaints accusing stores of price gouging have come into the Florida Attorney General’s Office in the past few days.
Consumers called the attorney general’s Price Gouging Hotline to report price surges in water, ice, fuel, lumber and other supplies since the hotline was activated Sunday, office spokeswoman Kylie Mason said. The exact number of complaints was not available Wednesday afternoon, Mason said.
The Florida price-gouging statute makes it illegal during an emergency to sell items such as gas, food, water and hotel rooms for prices that “grossly exceed” the average price during the previous 30 days. But cost increases are not necessarily price gouging. The Attorney General’s Office looks at pricegouging allegations case by case, Mason said.
Some stores, such as The Home Depot, freeze their prices when a state of emergency is declared. On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in all of Florida’s 67 counties.
Here are some tips:
Check the return policy. If you’re buying largeticket items you might return if the storm bypasses Central Florida, such as generators or large coolers, make sure you know the store’s policy on refunds. The Better Business Bureau processed complaints in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew last year about stores that would not take back items in an attempt to make up for their own losses, said Holly Salmons, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Florida. Stores must disclose their return policy at the time of sale and cannot refuse items they would usually accept for return.
It is illegal during an emergency to sell items for prices that “grossly exceed” the average price during the previous 30 days.
Airlines don’t count. Florida’s price-gouging statute does not apply to airlines that are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Most airlines typically offer travel vouchers for flights that were already booked and are affected.
Bolster your case. If you think you’ve identified price gouging, the Attorney General’s Office advises collecting as much information as possible. Keep estimates, receipts or bills. Make sure you’re making comparisons to the same product. Look at product name, size, quantity, manufacturer, item number and unit price. Check the grade, thickness and quality of lumber products. Document the per-mile charge, removal charges, per-day storage charges, and any other additional charges such as security and cleanup for services.
Call the Attorney General’s Price Gouging Hotline. The number is 866-966-7226. Violations may also be reported online at http://myfloridalegal.com and by mail addressed to Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, PL-01Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050.