Florida Attorney General Settles Gas Price Gouging Complaint
Posted by
Brian W. SmithOctober 03, 2008 1:44 PMAfter reviewing thousands of complaints of gasoline price gouging, Attorney General Bill McCollum reached his first settlement today with a Quincy station accused of overcharging customers $1,500.
S and K of Quincy Inc., owner of Kelly Junior #9 at 1958 W. Jefferson St., has agreed to a settlement with the state that includes a $2,000 donation to the American Red Cross.
Operators were accused of hiking the price of a gallon of regular gas from $3.99 to $4.29 on Sept. 12 in the wake of Hurricane Ike, when Florida was under a declared state of emergency. Investigators determined that the station sold 2,396 gallons to more than 100 customers at the inflated price.
"Businesses, no matter how small, will still be held fully accountable under the price gouging statute when we find evidence to support consumers' complaints," McCollum said in a statement.
Under the terms of the settlement, the business has also agreed to make restitution to every customer who comes forward with a receipt and to repay the state for the cost of the investigation.
McCollum said the business cooperated with the investigation and agreed not to gouge customers in the future.