New York Attorney General Letitia James has warned oil companies and gas stations that price gouging is illegal and reminded New Yorkers to be on the lookout for possible illegal fuel price gouging.
The warning comes in response to the announcement made on Tuesday by the US president Joe Biden that the United States will ban imports of Russian oil, natural gas and coal,
Russia is one of the world’s largest energy producers, and as a result of these sanctions, New Yorkers need to prepare for continued market disruptions, potentially inflated prices at gas stations, and make sure they know their rights.
New York law prohibits sellers of fuel and other vital and necessary goods from charging unreasonably excessive prices during an abnormal market disruption, including disruptions caused by global conflict. New York consumers who experience dramatic increases in the price of gasoline or fuel should report these incidents to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
HERE YOU CAN FILE THE COMPLAINT.
When reporting price gouging to the OAG, consumers should:
- Report the specific increased prices, the dates and places they saw the increased prices, and the types of fuel being sold.
- Please provide copies of your sales receipts and photos of advertised prices, if available.
- Buy only the amount of fuel you need and don’t stock up for fear of possible future shortages.
New Yorkers should report to the OAG about possible concerns about price gouging.
“President Biden is taking critical and necessary steps to hold Russia accountable for this unprovoked invasion that has claimed thousands of Ukrainian lives,” said Attorney General James. “This new round of sanctions could hit New Yorkers hard, so we’re reminding businesses that price gouging is illegal and making sure consumers take precautions to protect themselves and their wallets. Anyone who has experienced issues related to rising fuel prices is asked to contact my office and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect consumers.”
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