INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Attorney General’s office has already started to receive complaints about price gouging when it comes to consumer good like toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning supplies.
“We’re encouraging anyone who has experienced price gouging to file consumer complaints with us,” said Betsy DeNardi, director of consumer protection at the Indiana Attorney General’s office. “If the consumer is in the store and can take pictures of what the prices are and attach them to the complaint, that is very helpful for us.”
DeNardi said the office is currently reaching out to businesses about why prices may have increased, as well as communicating with other state agencies.
“If our office receives information and is able to prove that they have engaged in price gouging which is an unfair or unconscionable business practice, we could potentially pursue that under the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act,” DeNardi said. “We can obtain restitution for consumers, injunctive relief telling them they have to stop and we can obtain a penalty of up to $5,000 per violation.”
The AG’s office has not yet brought any actions against Indiana businesses for price gouging.
Click here to file a price gouging complaint.
