HARRISBURG―Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General has shut down price gouging efforts at Penn Jersey Paper Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“It’s important that all Pennsylvania businesses need to understand that price gouging during a state of emergency is not only wrong, it is illegal,” Attorney General Shapiro said, noting that “My office will protect Pennsylvania consumers and hold accountable any business that violates the Price Gouging Act.”
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) with Penn Jersey Paper Company after the Office received tips alleging that the store was selling Lysol Disinfectant Spray for unlawful prices. The Office learned that the business sold 276 cans of Lysol at $9.99/each, as well as 4 boxes of disposable face masks at $99.99/each.
Under the Price Gouging Act, a price increase of more than 20 percent during a declared state of emergency is considered price gouging. The AVC requires Penn Jersey Paper Company to pay $2,760.00 in civil penalties, in addition to restitution of $915.24 for consumers who purchased the cans of Lysol Disinfectant Spray and/or boxes of face masks. Penn Jersey Paper Company also agreed to fully comply with all provisions of the Pennsylvania Consumer Protection Law and Price Gouging Act moving forward.
Consumers who purchased cans of Lysol Disinfectant Spray and/or boxes of face masks from Penn Jersey Paper Company may be eligible for restitution if they paid more than they should have. In order to be considered for restitution, consumers should file a consumer complaint form and attach a copy of their receipt showing they purchased the Lysol Disinfectant Spray and/or face masks between March 6, 2020 and August 26, 2020. Complaints must be submitted by October 26, 2020 to be considered.
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