Salem leads list of local gas price gouing complaints

WSLS News Staff
Published: September 30, 2008

Salem leads the list of local areas where people called in gas price gouging complaints, following hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

The Virginia Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Affairs says the original number of complaints has been cut in half.  According to Marion Horsley with the Office of Consumer Affairs, more than half of the complaint calls received were either duplicates, repeats, or did not have actionable information (i.e. name of gas station or gas price).  So the original figure of 2300-2500 has dropped to 1115 actionable complaints.

Horsley says inspectors with the office are working to investigate the complaints, and will then send their findings to the Attorney General’s office for potential action.

Here’s a breakdown of the complaints:

• Salem - 104
• Roanoke - 61
• Lynchburg/Madison Heights - 45
• Danville - 22
• Blacksburg/Christiansburg - 15
• Martinsville - 10