Price gouging law is in effect following Helene. How to recognize & report it in NC

By Renee Umsted

Updated December 3, 2024 7:02 PM

Asheville residents residents line up for gasoline at a gas station on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. The remnants of Hurricane Helene caused widespread flooding, downed trees, and power outages in western North Carolina. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com

Hurricane Helene Aftermath

Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, causing major flooding and destruction throughout North Carolina. Here is ongoing coverage from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer about Hurricane Helene and the aftermath, particularly in Western North Carolina.

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A law against price gouging is in effect in North Carolina as a result of Helene.

When the state of emergency was declared, it became illegal for businesses to charge too much to make a profit.

The office of N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein is asking consumers to look out for price gouging and report it.

As of Monday, Sept. 30, the attorney general’s office has received and is looking into 43 complaints of price gouging since Helene, Nazneen Ahmed, a spokesperson for Stein’s office, told The News & Observer. Most of the reports are concerning prices of hotel stays and fuel stemming from businesses in western North Carolina, and particularly the Boone area, Ahmed said.

What is price gouging?

Businesses and industries that are heavily affected by storms like Helene or other severe incidents may need to raise prices to resupply, and they should disclose the increases so people can make informed decisions.

However, businesses can’t “unreasonably raise the price of goods or services to profit from a state of emergency,” according to a press release announcing the price gouging law.

The attorney general’s office can seek refunds for people who paid too much, and courts may impose civil penalties against price gougers of up to $5,000 per violation, according to the N.C. Department of Justice.

Stein has brought 12 lawsuits against 29 defendants under the price-gouging law since 2018, and has obtained 14 judgments or settlements totaling $1.08 million against 25 defendants.

How to report price gouging in NC

North Carolinians may submit complaints of price gouging online or by phone.

To report potential price gouging, call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or go to ncdoj.gov/pricegouging.

Be ready to provide your name, address and contact information, along with the name and address of the company against which you are complaining.

Also be prepared to share details of the product, item or service involved in the price gouging, including its current price and the reason given by the business for the current price, if provided.

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This story was originally published September 30, 2024 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Price gouging law is in effect following Helene. How to recognize & report it in NC."

Renee Umsted

The News & Observer

202-383-6008

Renee Umsted is The News & Observer’s Affordability Reporter. She writes about what it costs to live in the Triangle, with a consumer-focused approach. She has a degree in journalism from TCU.