Price gouging is against the law in North Carolina and you can report it. If the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office finds in your favor, you can be refunded and the business can be fined.
What is price gouging?
Price gouging is when a business charges too much in a time of crisis, whether it’s a natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado or winter storm, or some other kind of abnormal market disruption, as declared by the Governor or a municipality.
The law applies to all levels of the supply chain, from manufacturers to distributers to retailers.
This law is in effect now (Friday, September 27, 2024) as Helene approaches.
How can you report price gouging?
Simply fill out this this Price Gouging Complaint form. It will ask you what State of Emergency the price gouging happened during, what business it is, and the price before and after. You can upload supporting documents, such as an image or text document.
What is the penalty for price gouging?
North Carolina Attorney General’s Office has enforced North Carolina’s price gouging law many times. Customers who report price gouging can be refunded, and businesses can be fined up to $5,000 for each violation.
Reporting price gouging in South Carolina
South Carolina also has a form to report price gouging during an emergency. Anyone found to have violated the state’s price gouging law is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine of up to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both.
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