FRANKFORT, Ky. – With the Commonwealth under a continued state of emergency due to recent winter storms, Attorney General Russell Coleman is reminding Kentuckians the attorney general’s price gouging hotline remains open.
Since Friday, the attorney general’s office states Kentuckians have made 74 reports online and through calling the hotline.
According to the attorney general’s office, the majority of those complaints related to fuel, including gasoline, kerosene and propane.
Coleman’s office reminds consumers to include as much detail as possible about suspected price gouging and to confirm the complain contains accurate contact information for the consumer.
The Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection reviews the complaints to determine if price gouging has occurred.
“Severe weather makes us more vulnerable, and scammers know it. Protecting Kentucky consumers during emergencies is a core responsibility of our office,” Coleman said.
Kentucky law defines price gouging as a grossly excessive charge, over 10% above the price prior to the emergency declaration, that is not related to higher costs to the seller, according to the attorney general’s office. Officials say goods and services covered under Kentucky’s price gouging law include:
- Food
- Gasoline
- Natural gas
- Heating oil
- Shelter
- Transportation
- Emergency cleanup
- Repair and reconstruction services, such as tree removal
Coleman encourages any Kentuckian who suspects price gouging to report it online or call 1-888-432-9257.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
