The West Virginia Attorney General is warning consumers about
people overcharging for bottled water.
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey urges people to report
instances of price gouging during the state of emergency that was issued in
nine counties after a leak that prompted a water emergency.
“It is illegal for any person or entity to inflate the price of
water in times of emergency,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “We are hearing
reports of price gouging going on already in the region. It is illegal and just
plain wrong for a business to take advantage of consumers and West
Virginians during an emergency.”
If you are searching for clean water the Attorney General wants
to warn you to be safe and double check where the water is coming from.
"If I hear anything about price gouging I will do
everything in my power to prosecute people and go after them," Morrisey
said. "We are going to show no mercy with people who try to take advantage
of citizens this critical time. This is a very serious thing and I want to make
sure that all vendors know that you cannot take advantage of West Virginia citizens."
Morrisey encourages anyone who has been charged overly inflated
prices to file a complaint with the office’s Consumer Protection Division at
800-368-8808.