Did a new York car wash exploit religious observance for profit? This article details a case where a car wash allegedly targeted Jewish customers with a “Passover special” and charged them significantly more for the same service. Discover the details of the inquiry, the attorney General’s response, and what this means for consumers looking for car washes, especially during religious holidays.
NY Car Wash Targeted Orthodox Jews with ‘Passover special,’ AG Says
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New York Attorney General Letitia James is taking action against a car wash accused of discriminatory practices targeting Orthodox Jewish customers. Super 4 Seasons car wash in Spring Valley, NY, faces penalties for allegedly overcharging jewish patrons for a “Passover special” car cleaning service.
Teh Allegations: Exploiting Religious Observance
The Attorney general’s office launched an examination following complaints that Super 4 Seasons was exploiting the religious observances of Orthodox Jews during Passover. Jewish law prohibits owning chametz,
or leavened food, during the holiday, prompting many to thoroughly clean their homes and vehicles.
The “Passover Special” Scam
According to the Attorney General’s report, Super 4 Seasons allegedly identified visibly Orthodox Jewish customers and charged them $169.99 for a standard car wash marketed as a “Passover special.” Non-Jewish customers, tho, were charged only $47 for the same service.This practice, the report claims, has been in place since at least 2018.
Undercover Investigation Reveals Discrimination
An undercover operation conducted by the Attorney General’s office further substantiated the allegations. An investigator dressed in Orthodox jewish clothing was quoted an inflated price for a standard car wash, with employees stating that the only services available were shampoo and Passover cleaning. Conversely, another investigator in non-Jewish clothing was offered a standard wash at the regular price. An employee reportedly told this investigator that the Passover promotion was for Jews
and cost more becuase their cars are so dirty.
Attorney General’s Response
Attorney General James condemned the alleged discriminatory practices, stating:
targeting Jewish New Yorkers with deceptive pricing around passport is a clear act of religious discrimination and will not be tolerated. Every New Yorker, nonetheless of their faith, deserves to be treated fairly and equally. My office will not hesitate to hold businesses accountable when they exploit families’ religious observance.
Attorney General Letitia James
Financial Impact and Declining Sales
The Attorney General’s office estimates that Super 4 Seasons illicitly made over $35,000 since 2022 through this discriminatory practice. Interestingly, sales of the “Passover special” have declined by roughly half from 2022 to 2024, suggesting that Jewish customers may have become aware of the overcharging.
Settlement and Consumer Alert
To avoid potential penalties of up to $161,000,Super 4 Seasons has agreed to cease charging Jewish customers more than others for the same service. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to $75,000. The Attorney General also issued a consumer alert cautioning the Jewish community to be wary of similar scams at car washes, markets, and hotels ahead of Passover.
Company Response
When contacted, a representative for Super 4 Seasons stated that lawyers have advised them not to comment on the matter.
