NC Attorney General Reaches Settlement With Charlotte Gas Station Over Colonial Pipeline Price Gouging

The Latest (11/10/21):

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has reached a settlement of more than $20,000 with a Charlotte gas station over price gouging amid the Colonial Pipeline shutdown.

According to a news release, Stein reached a $20,305.58 settlement with Mansa Travel Center Charlotte LLC, which does business as Queen’s Market, after he sued them in Aug. for allegedly violating the state’s price gouging law during the shutdown and state of emergency.

Customers who were forced to pay unreasonably high prices for gasoline at Queen’s Market are eligible for restitution. In addition to the payments, the judgment also requires the defendant to permanently install software that records the prices at which it sells gas and the number of gallons sold at each price.

“I’m pleased that customers who were forced to pay outrageous prices for gas during the pipeline shutdown will get some relief,” Attorney General Josh Stein said. “Businesses cannot take advantage of a state of emergency to price gouge North Carolinians. If they do, I’ll hold them accountable.”

Consumers who purchased gasoline from Queen’s Market between May 11 and 14, 2021, and believe they were charged an excessive price, may request a claim form by emailing PGSettlements@ncdoj.gov or calling the NC Attorney General’s Office toll-free at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.

The lawsuit alleged that Queen’s Market raised prices for gas to as high as $9.99 per gallon for premium, according to a news releasde. The company allegedly sold gas to customers at these excessive prices even though it hadn’t incurred similar increases in fuel costs.

Click here to read a copy of the judgment.

Original Story (8/27/21):

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte gas station seen in a viral TikTok video price gouging amid the Colonial Pipeline Shutdown is being sued by the state of North Carolina.

Now the Attorney General is seeking restitution for customers who were charged excessive amounts.

A Durham gas station is also named in the lawsuit, accused of raising prices to more than $5 during the pipeline shutdown.