LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is continuing her crackdown into price-gouging cases related to the COVID-19 outbreak as more than 1,400 complaints have been filed.
According to Nessel, the latest tally of price-gouging complaints received is 1,417, which includes 585 written complaints received as of 7 a.m. Monday and 832 complaints received by phone as of 5 p.m. Saturday.
As a result, Nessel has now assigned a team of special agents into investigating these cases.
Nessel says these agents are “highly trained criminal investigators” who will assist with performing the following tasks:
- help the office visit stores to evaluate details of consumer complaints,
- assist with online research to compare pricing, and
- receive phone calls or letters from consumers.
Last week, hardware store chain Menards was one entity to come under fire by way of consumer complaints, which prompted an investigation. The news of this development had come after Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered enhanced restrictions on price gouging.
Retailers may be in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act if they are:
- Charging the consumer a price that is grossly in excess of the price at which similar property or services are sold; and
- Causing coercion and duress as the result of the time and nature of a sales presentation.
Nessel and her office say action by consumers has been able to help their efforts. Practices such as shaming businesses engaged in gouging on social media and sharing receipts with the AG’s office have helped create “a positive shift in the market.”
Because of this, several cases were investigated last week and corrected.
However, price gouging is not limited to in-store purchases. Nessel says that her team are looking into online instances of gouging as well.
“Our objective is to make sure business owners are following the laws Michigan has in place to protect consumers, and public awareness of price-gouging can offer valuable support in our efforts to keep companies honest,” Nessel said. “If that can be accomplished without legal action, then that is a path we will pursue. But if stores continue to disregard the rules and raise their prices beyond justifiable amounts, then we will hold them accountable.”
Meanwhile, consumers are urged to purchase what they need, and to not buy in large amounts – or at prices – that are based on fear.
“Fear is a powerful motivator,” Nessel said. “But working together, we can stabilize both the prices and the levels of supplies on our grocery store shelves.”
To report any instances of price gouging, consumers can file a complaint online or by calling the Consumer Protection tip line at 877-765-8388.
Hours of operation are between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
News of the COVID-19 outbreak is changing rapidly. Citizens can keep up to date with the latest information at https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/ or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
