To protect consumers affected by natural disasters, the North Carolina attorney general has executed the price-gouging law.
“While we don’t yet know how significant the damage could be, we do know how to prepare for storms,” AG Josh Stein, who is running for governor, wrote in a press release Tuesday. “If you live in the potential path, please monitor news and weather reports, prepare your emergency supplies, and notify my office if you see any price-gouging.”
The law prevents anyone from excessively charging for services in times of a crisis and kicks in when the governor or the legislature declares a state of emergency. Gov. Cooper signed the executive order for the state of emergency on Monday.
While some businesses and industries heavily impacted by an incident, such as a hurricane, may have reasonable needs to increase prices, Stein said it must be communicated appropriately so people can make informed buying decisions.
Anyone that experiences or sees this happen should report it to 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or by file a complaint here.
in the least six years, Stein has held 29 defendants accountable under North Carolina’s price gouging statute, obtained 14 judgments or settlements totaling $1 million against 25 defendants.
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