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.

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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

  • 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.

  • Report potential price gouging incidents to your state attorney general.

How to report price gouging to the attorney general

You should take note of:

  1. The name of the store/vendor where you saw the item and their address.

  2. Product details, including, but not limited to, the product type, brand, size, and price.

  3. The date, time, and location you saw the product.

  4. You can improve the investigation by providing a picture of the item.

  5. 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

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

Idaho

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

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

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

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

Online Report Form: https://secure.nmag.gov/ecs

Phone Number: (505) 490-4060:

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

Ohio

Online and by phone

Oklahoma

Online and by phone

Phone Number: (405) 521-2029

E-mail: [email protected]

Oregon

Online and by phone

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

Online Report Form: http://txoag.force.com/CPDOnlineForm

Phone Number: (800) 621-0508

 

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

Virginia

Online and by phone

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]

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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.