How to Identify and Report Price Gouging
Absurd prices for products should not be a concern during this outbreak. Here's how to identify price gouging and put a stop to it.
As the coronavirus continues to spread in the United States, more Americans are taking precautionary measures like using hand sanitizer, halting travel and avoiding handshakes. There is a lot to worry about with this outbreak, but absurd prices for sanitizers and other critical safety supplies shouldn’t be one of them.
How do I spot price gouging?
1) Extraordinarily high prices: Businesses are allowed to increase prices for critical supplies during an emergency, but they are NOT allowed to raise the price of products excessively to take advantage of the current pandemic. While laws vary by state, increases over 20% may be considered price gouging.
2) Price Comparison Between Similar Products: Some state laws, prohibit significant increases in prices as compared to other products. For instance, if one hand sanitizer is priced at double the cost of similar products, that may violate price gouging laws.
3) Err on the side of caution: If you aren’t sure whether a product is priced too high, it’s better to report problematic items to the company and your Attorney General.
What do I need to report price gouging?
You should report any potential price gouging to your state Attorney General. You will generally need:
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.
How can I report price gouging?
You should report price gouging to the company and your Attorney General. Contact information for each state’s Attorney General is listed below.
Alabama
Online Report Form: https://www.alabamaag.gov/consumercomplaint
Phone Number: 334-242-7335
Alaska
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 Report Form: https://consumer-complaint.azag.gov/publiccomplaint/begin.aspx
Phone Number: (602) 542-5763
E-mail: [email protected]
Arkansas
Online Report Form: https://arkansasag.gov/covid19/report/
Phone Number: (501) 682-2007
E-mail: [email protected]
California
Online Report Form: https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company
Colorado
Online Report Form: https://coag.gov/file-complaint/report-consumer-fraud/
Phone Number: 720-508-6000
Connecticut
Online Report Form: https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint/
Phone Number: 860-808-5420
E-mail: [email protected]
Delaware
Online Report Form: https://attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/fraud/cpu/complaint/
Phone Number: (302) 577-8600
E-mail: [email protected]
Florida
Online Report Form: http://www.myfloridalegal.com/Contact.nsf/PriceGouging!OpenForm
Phone Number: (866) 9NO-SCAM
Georgia
Online Report Form: http://ocp.ga.gov/form/consumer-complaint/step1
Phone Number: (404) 651-8600
Hawaii
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 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 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 Report Form: https://indianaattorneygeneral.secure.force.com/ConsumerComplaintForm
Phone Number: 317.232.6330
Iowa
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 Report Form: https://ag.ks.gov/complaint-center/consumer
Phone Number: (785) 296-3751
Kentucky
Online Report Form: https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/AttorneyGeneral/PriceGougingComplaintForm
Phone Number: 1-888-432-9257
Louisiana
Online Report Form: http://www.ag.state.la.us/Form/Consumer/Dispute
Phone Number: 225-326-6465
Maine
Online Report Form: https://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/complaints/complaint_form.shtml
Phone Number: (207) 626-8849
E-mail: [email protected]
Maryland
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 Report Form: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/file-a-consumer-complaint
Phone Number: (617) 727-8400
E-mail: [email protected]
Michigan
Online Report Form: https://secure.ag.state.mi.us/complaints/consumer.aspx
Phone Number: 517-335-7622
E-mail: [email protected]
Minnesota
Online Report Form: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Forms/ConsumerAssistanceRequest.asp
Phone Number: (651) 296-3353
Mississippi
Phone Number: 601-359-3680
Missouri
Online Report Form: http://ago.mo.gov/app/consumercomplaint
Phone Number: 800-392-8222
E-mail: [email protected]
Montana
Online Report Form: https://app.doj.mt.gov/apps/oscar/complaintstart.aspx
Phone Number: 406-444-4500
E-mail: [email protected]
Nebraska
Online Report Form: https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/file-consumer-complaint
Phone Number: (800) 727-6432
E-mail: [email protected]
Nevada
Online Report Form: http://ag.nv.gov/Complaints/File_Complaint/
Phone Number: (775) 684-1100
New Hampshire
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 Report Form: https://njconsumeraffairs.state.nj.us/file-a-complaint/
Phone Number: 973.504.6200
E-mail: [email protected]
New Mexico
Online Report Form: https://secure.nmag.gov/ecs
Phone Number: (505) 490-4060:
New York
Online Report Form: https://ag.ny.gov/price-gouging-complaint-form
Phone Number: 1-800-771-7755
North Carolina
Online Report Form: https://ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/consumer-complaint/
Phone Number: (877)-5NO-SCAM
North Dakota
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 Report Form: https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families/Consumers/File-A-Complaint.aspx
Phone Number: 800-282-0515
Oklahoma
Phone Number: (405) 521-2029
E-mail: [email protected]
Oregon
Online Report Form: https://justice.oregon.gov/consumercomplaints/OnlineComplaints/OnlineComplaintForm/en
Phone Number: 503-378-8442
Pennsylvania
Online Report Form: https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/
Phone Number: 717-787-3391
Rhode Island
Online Report Form: https://riag.wufoo.com/forms/q1851amb1bdd4d5/
Phone Number: (401) 274-4400
E-mail: [email protected]
South Carolina
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 Report Form: https://atg.sd.gov/complaintform.aspx
Phone Number: (605) 773-4400
E-mail: [email protected]
Tennessee
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 Report Form: http://txoag.force.com/CPDOnlineForm
Phone Number: (800) 621-0508
Utah
Online Report Form: https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/contact/complaint-form/
Phone Number: 1-801-366-0260
E-mail: [email protected]
Vermont
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
Report Form: https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumer-protection/files/PriceGougingComplaintFormOAG.pdf
Phone Number: (804) 786-2042
Washington
Online Report Form: https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/ComplaintForm.aspx
Phone Number: 1-206-464-6684
West Virginia
Online Report Form: https://ago.wv.gov/Pages/consumercomplaint.aspx
Phone Number: 304-558-8986
E-mail: [email protected]
Wisconsin
Online Report Form: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/FileConsumerComplaint.aspx
Phone Number: (800) 422-7128
E-mail: [email protected]
Wyoming
Online Report Form: http://ag.wyo.gov/cpu/consumer-complaints
Phone Number: 307-777-6397
E-mail: [email protected]
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