Florida Worth Gouging Legal guidelines Are in Impact – Alachua County

By FloridaDailyHerald On Sep 24, 2022

As a precautionary measure, a state of emergency is in impact for all of Florida. This kicks in value gauging legal guidelines. When you suspect value gouging, report this data to the Legal professional Normal’s Worth Gouging Hotline at 1-866-966-7226.

Worth Gouging Incessantly Requested Questions

1. What’s Worth Gouging?

Florida Statute 501.160 states that in a state of emergency, it’s illegal to hire, promote, lease, supply to hire, promote, or lease important commodities, dwelling models, or self-storage services at an unconscionable value. A value is presumed to be unconscionable if: (1) there’s a gross disparity between the value charged throughout the state of emergency and the typical value throughout the 30 days earlier than the state of emergency or (2) the value grossly exceeds the typical value the identical or comparable commodity was accessible within the commerce space throughout the 30 days earlier than the declaration of the state of emergency, except the vendor can justify the value by displaying will increase in its prices or market developments. Examples of essential commodities for storm occasions are meals, water, ice, fuel, lodging and lumber.

2. How do I do know if I’m being value gouged?

The legislation compares the reported value of the commodity or service throughout the state of emergency to the typical value charged over the 30-day interval previous to the declared state of emergency. If there’s a gross disparity between the prior value and the present cost, it could possibly be thought-about value gouging.

3. What is roofed underneath the Worth Gouging Statute?

The Worth Gouging Statute covers lodging and storage services and important commodities essential to be used or consumption as a direct results of the emergency. A “commodity” means any good, service, materials, merchandise, provides, tools, sources, or different article of commerce, and consists of, with out limitation, meals, water, ice, chemical compounds, petroleum merchandise, and lumber. Commodities lined underneath the statute embody these rented, offered or provided for hire or sale inside the space of the declared state of emergency and essential for consumption or use as a direct results of the emergency. The legislation additionally requires these promoting items and providers to own a enterprise tax receipt. Examples of non-essential objects are alcoholic drinks and cigarettes.

4. What proof do I want to assist implement the Worth Gouging Statute?

When you suspect value gouging, acquire as a lot data as doable within the type of pictures of indicators displaying the value, receipts, estimates, reservation numbers and costs, invoices, or payments. Embody as a lot data as doable, together with the product identify, dimension or amount, producer, merchandise quantity and unit value. For lumber merchandise, notice the grade, thickness and high quality. Whether it is gasoline, notice the grade of fuel and value per gallon. If it’s a service corresponding to storage or towing, notice the per-mile (or different distance) cost, elimination expenses, per-day storage expenses and different expenses corresponding to safety, clear up or different “add-ons.” Report this data to the Legal professional Normal’s Worth Gouging Hotline at 1-866-966-7226. You may additionally report violations through the No Rip-off app or on-line at: http://myfloridalegal.com or mail paperwork to the next tackle:

Workplace of the Legal professional Normal

The Capitol, PL-01

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050

Please keep in mind to incorporate your identify and get in touch with data, the identify and tackle of the corporate or particular person you observed of value gouging, an outline of why you consider value gouging occurred, and any documentation you’ll have.

For extra data, contact Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton at 352-264-6979 or [email protected].