How to report price gouging after a natural disaster
As of now, 37 states have some kind of anti-price gouging laws. Consumers are urged to file complaints if they suspect a business is gouging them.
After every major storm or other emergency, people should be on the lookout for price gougers. It’s sad that some opportunists will use a disaster like a hurricane or tornado or flood to take advantage of people who need safe drinking water, food, ice, gasoline, building materials or emergency supplies.
While laws vary by state, increases of 20 percent or more may be considered price gouging. There are few federal protections against price gouging; we need to pass comprehensive federal price gouging legislation. As of now, 37 states have some kind of anti-price gouging laws. Consumers are encouraged to file complaints if they suspect price gouging. All consumer complaints are public record and reporting these incidents can help build public pressure to create more protections at the federal level.
Price gouging protections generally go into effect when the governor or president declares a disaster. Each state’s attorney general has the authority to prosecute any business that seeks to take advantage of a disaster by excessively increasing its prices.
How to spot price gouging
- Extraordinarily high prices: High prices do not always mean that price gouging is occurring.
- Businesses have the ability to determine the price for their product. But businesses are NOT allowed to raise the price of products to “exorbitant” or “excessive” prices to take advantage of a crisis. Err on the side of caution: If you aren’t sure whether a product is priced too high, it’s better to report suspected incidents to the company and the attorney general.
What to do if you see price gouging
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Talk directly to the business: Businesses may be willing to lower the price if you voice your concern. Search for a customer service hotline or any available number and try to speak to a real person. If they are unable to address your concern, speaking to them will help strengthen your report to the attorney general.
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Report potential price gouging incidents to your state attorney general.
How to report price gouging to the attorney general
You should take note of:
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The name of the store/vendor where you saw the item and their address.
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Product details, including, but not limited to, the product type, brand, size, and price.
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The date, time, and location you saw the product.
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You can improve the investigation by providing a picture of the item.
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How you may have attempted to resolve the dispute, including the names of people you spoke with.
How do I file a complaint with the attorney general?
Most states accept complaints either by phone or online. Some accept emails too. See the list below to file a complaint in your state.
Alabama
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://www.alabamaag.gov/consumercomplaint
Phone Number: 334-242-7335
Alaska
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: http://www.law.state.ak.us/department/civil/consumer/cp_complaint.html
Phone Number: 907-269-5200
E-mail: [email protected]
Arizona
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://consumer-complaint.azag.gov/publiccomplaint/begin.aspx
Phone Number: (602) 542-5763
E-mail: [email protected]
Arkansas
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://arkansasag.gov/covid19/report/
Phone Number: (501) 682-2007
E-mail: [email protected]
California
Online
Online Report Form: https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company
Colorado
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://coag.gov/file-complaint/report-consumer-fraud/
Phone Number: 720-508-6000
Connecticut
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint/
Phone Number: 860-808-5420
E-mail: [email protected]
Delaware
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/fraud/cpu/complaint/
Phone Number: (302) 577-8600
E-mail: [email protected]
Florida
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: http://www.myfloridalegal.com/Contact.nsf/PriceGouging!OpenForm
Phone Number: (866) 9NO-SCAM
Georgia
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: http://ocp.ga.gov/form/consumer-complaint/step1
Phone Number: (404) 651-8600
Hawaii
Online, by phone and email
Report Form: https://cca.hawaii.gov/ocp/files/2018/02/Complaint-Form-and-Instruction-2018-WEB.pdf
Phone Number: (808) 586-2630
E-mail: [email protected]
Idaho
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://www.ag.idaho.gov/office-resources/online-forms/?form=File%20a%20Complaint&complaint=Consumer%20Complaint
Phone Number: 208-334-2400
Illinois
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://ccformsubmission.ilattorneygeneral.net/
Phone Number: 1-800-386-5438 (Chicago)
1-800-243-0618 (Springfield)
1-800-243-0607 (Carbondale)
Línea Gratuita en Español: 1-866-310-8398
Indiana
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://indianaattorneygeneral.secure.force.com/ConsumerComplaintForm
Phone Number: 317.232.6330
Iowa
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint/complaint-form
Phone Number: 515-281-5926
E-mail: [email protected]
Kansas
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://ag.ks.gov/complaint-center/consumer
Phone Number: (785) 296-3751
Kentucky
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/AttorneyGeneral/PriceGougingComplaintForm
Phone Number: 1-888-432-9257
Louisiana
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: http://www.ag.state.la.us/Form/Consumer/Dispute
Phone Number: 225-326-6465
Maine
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/complaints/complaint_form.shtml
Phone Number: (207) 626-8849
E-mail: [email protected]
Maryland
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://web.oag.state.md.us/editor/customer/onlineformhelpers/formviewer.aspx?filename=MUGeneral.htm
Phone Number: 410-528-8662
E-mail: [email protected]
Massachusetts
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/file-a-consumer-complaint
Phone Number: (617) 727-8400
E-mail: [email protected]
Michigan
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://secure.ag.state.mi.us/complaints/consumer.aspx
Phone Number: 517-335-7622
E-mail: [email protected]
Minnesota
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Forms/ConsumerAssistanceRequest.asp
Phone Number: (651) 296-3353
Mississippi
By phone
Phone Number: 601-359-3680
Missouri
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: http://ago.mo.gov/app/consumercomplaint
Phone Number: 800-392-8222
E-mail: [email protected]
Montana
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://app.doj.mt.gov/apps/oscar/complaintstart.aspx
Phone Number: 406-444-4500
E-mail: [email protected]
Nebraska
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/file-consumer-complaint
Phone Number: (800) 727-6432
E-mail: [email protected]
Nevada
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: http://ag.nv.gov/Complaints/File_Complaint/
Phone Number: (775) 684-1100
New Hampshire
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form (requires registration): https://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints/index.htm
Phone Number: 603-271-3641
E-mail: [email protected]
New Jersey
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://njconsumeraffairs.state.nj.us/file-a-complaint/
Phone Number: 973.504.6200
E-mail: [email protected]
New Mexico
Online and by phone
New York
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://ag.ny.gov/price-gouging-complaint-form
Phone Number: 1-800-771-7755
North Carolina
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/consumer-complaint/
Phone Number: (877)-5NO-SCAM
North Dakota
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-complaints/general-complaint
Phone Number: 1-800-472-2600
E-mail: [email protected]
Ohio
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families/Consumers/File-A-Complaint.aspx
Phone Number: 800-282-0515
Oklahoma
Online and by phone
Phone Number: (405) 521-2029
E-mail: [email protected]
Oregon
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://justice.oregon.gov/consumercomplaints/OnlineComplaints/OnlineComplaintForm/en
Phone Number: 503-378-8442
Pennsylvania
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/
Phone Number: 717-787-3391
Rhode Island
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://riag.wufoo.com/forms/q1851amb1bdd4d5/
Phone Number: (401) 274-4400
E-mail: [email protected]
South Carolina
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form (requires registration): https://applications.sc.gov/DCAComplaintSystem/Login/ConsumerLogin.aspx
Phone Number: 803-737-3953
E-mail: [email protected]
South Dakota
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://atg.sd.gov/complaintform.aspx
Phone Number: (605) 773-4400
E-mail: [email protected]
Tennessee
Online and by phone
Online Report Form (requires registration): https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/working-for-tennessee/consumer/file-a-complaint.html
Phone Number: (615) 741-4737
Texas
Online and by phone
Utah
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/contact/complaint-form/
Phone Number: 1-801-366-0260
E-mail: [email protected]
Vermont
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://agocapcomplaint.atg.state.vt.us/forms/consumer-assistance-program-complaint-form/
Phone Number: (802) 656-3183
E-mail: [email protected]
Virginia
Online and by phone
Report Form: https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumer-protection/files/PriceGougingComplaintFormOAG.pdf
Phone Number: (804) 786-2042
Washington
Online and by phone
Online Report Form: https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/ComplaintForm.aspx
Phone Number: 1-206-464-6684
West Virginia
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://ago.wv.gov/Pages/consumercomplaint.aspx
Phone Number: 304-558-8986
E-mail: [email protected]
Wisconsin
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/FileConsumerComplaint.aspx
Phone Number: (800) 422-7128
E-mail: [email protected]
Wyoming
Online, by phone and email
Online Report Form: http://ag.wyo.gov/cpu/consumer-complaints
Phone Number: 307-777-6397
E-mail: [email protected]
Topics
Authors
Teresa Murray
Consumer Watchdog, U.S. PIRG Education Fund
Teresa directs the Consumer Watchdog office, which looks out for consumers’ health, safety and financial security. Previously, she worked as a journalist covering consumer issues and personal finance for two decades for Ohio’s largest daily newspaper. She received dozens of state and national journalism awards, including Best Columnist in Ohio, a National Headliner Award for coverage of the 2008-09 financial crisis, and a journalism public service award for exposing improper billing practices by Verizon that affected 15 million customers nationwide. Teresa and her husband live in Greater Cleveland and have two sons. She enjoys biking, house projects and music, and serves on her church missions team and stewardship board.
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