N.Y. Attorney General To Probe 13 Gas Stations Accused Of Price Gouging
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York is taking complaints of prices gouging in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy seriously.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced enforcement proceedings against 13 gas stations in New York will soon begin.
The gas stations involved in the probe include those on Long Island, in Westchester County, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx.
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"Today's action is the first in a series of steps my office will take as we continue to actively investigate the hundreds of complaints we've received from consumers of businesses preying on victims of Hurricane Sandy. We will do everything we can to stop unscrupulous individuals from taking advantage of New Yorkers trying to rebuild their lives," Schneiderman said.
Among the stations on the list of 13 is the Mobil on the Hutchinson River Parkway.
The Monday after the storm, 1010 WINS' Al Jones caught up with one man filling his car and two gas cans at that very station He said the situation "should be looked in to."
Schneiderman said that Mobil station and the others stand out because of the price they were charging and the amount of the increase following the storm. In fact, a gallon of regular the Monday after Superstorm Sandy cost $4.85, Jones reported.
"Yeah. It's a little high -- definitely. It should be around $4.20 a gallon. Little bit taking advantage -- gouging," another man said.
The accusation came as no surprise to one woman, who said she relies on the Mobil station.
"I think this station is a price gouger -- always. But unfortunately, this is the route I take. This is where I buy my gas, but I'm not happy about it," she said.
The Attorney General's Office got complaints that the station was charging as much as $5.03 per gallon.
Here is a full list of the stations being investigated:
Nassau County
Shell
408 Rockaway Turnpike
Cedarhurst, NY 11516
Consumer complaint 5.00+
Suffolk County
Babylon Gas Station/Express Mart
1000 Route 109
Lindenhurst, NY 11757
Consumer complaint $4.99
USA Petroleum
East Islip, NY 11730, NY
Consumer complaint $5.50+
USA Petroleum
2664 Route 112
Medford, NY 11763
Consumer complaint 5.50+
Westchester County
Shell
3709 Crompond Road
Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567
Consumer complaint $5.00
Mobil
174 Westchester Avenue
White Plains, NY
Consumer complaint $5.05
Mobil
Hutchinson River Parkway
White Plains, NY
Consumer complaint $5.03
Brooklyn
Sonomax
278 Greenpoint Ave
Brooklyn, NY
Consumer complaint $4.74
Queens
Mobil
4040 Crescent St
Long Island City ,NY
Consumer complaint $4.89
Shell
Northern Heights Service
7018 Northern Blvd
Jackson Heights, NY
Consumer complaint $5.50
Delta
1309 14th Avenue
College Point, NY
Consumer complaint $5.00
Bronx
Getty
600 Pelham Parkway
Bronx, NY
Consumer complaint $5.39
Mobil
688 E. Gun Hill Road
Bronx, NY
Consumer complaint $4.89
