AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF News) – 127 businesses in Texas have been accused of price gouging during the state of disaster declared for Hurricane Harvey.
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Consumer Protection Division said all of the cases involve consumer complaints against gas stations that allegedly charge $3.99 or higher for a gallon of unleaded gas or diesel.
“At the outset of Harvey, I made it clear that my office would not tolerate price gouging of vulnerable Texans by any individuals or businesses looking to profit from the hurricane,” said Paxton.
The division said it received approximately 5,500 price gouging complaints about businesses with many Texans emailed photos and receipts as evidence.
Many businesses received notices of violations are located in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Paxton said they notified the businesses of the allegations and offered them the chance to resolve the matter.
“We’ve given the 127 alleged offenders an opportunity to resolve these issues with our office or face possible legal action for violating state law. Our investigation of other businesses into price gouging remains ongoing,” he said.
According to a statement issued by the Attorney General’s office, the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which prohibits anyone from taking advantage of a disaster declared by the governor and selling or leasing fuel or other necessities for excessive or exorbitant prices, law authorizes the attorney general to file price gouging lawsuits and seek refunds of money unlawfully taken from consumers, civil penalties of up to $20,000 per violation and court orders to prevent future violations.
The office is asking anyone who believes they may have been scammed or price gouged to call the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Hotline toll-free at (800) 621-0508, email [email protected] or file a complaint online at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cpd/file-a-consumer-complaint.
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