New York's attorney general issued a consumer alert Saturday as a severe coastal storm was expected to bring heavy rain, wind and possible flooding to New York City, the Hudson Valley and Long Island. The warning concerns the price of essential goods and services during an emergency, not every price increase after a storm.
The attorney general's office says New York law bars businesses from taking unfair advantage by charging an unconscionably excessive price for goods or services vital to health, safety or welfare during an emergency. The state says the law covers New York vendors, including those selling online. Whether a particular charge breaks the law depends on its circumstances; the alert does not set a flat percentage threshold or make every expensive hotel room, generator or repair job a violation.
For a report, the office asks consumers to note the specific price increase, date and location. Save a receipt and take a photo of an advertised price where possible. A before-and-after price comparison can help an investigator understand the complaint, though the office decides whether to investigate and whether the legal standard is met. New Yorkers can submit a complaint through the attorney general's official website or call the number in its alert.
The office says violations may carry penalties of up to $25,000 per violation. That is a potential civil penalty on a business, not a consumer refund amount or a guarantee that a complaint will produce payment. Anyone hiring a storm-repair contractor should also get the full price and work scope in writing before paying a deposit. Financialist's New York debt guide explains separate rules for collecting a bill; it is not a guide to storm price-gouging complaints.