Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s office reached a settlement with four hotels due to price gouging during last year’s wildfires.
The hotels have to pay a total of $105,600 to the state and they have to reimburse more than a hundred families for their hotel costs.
The hotels are the Capital Inn & Suites in Salem, the Le Chateau Inn in Florence, the Rodeway Inn in Corvallis and the Days Inn in Roseburg.
Oregon’s price gouging law typically applies to consumer goods and services after the governor declares a market disruption — like a pandemic or a wildfire.
“Examples include food, water, fuel, construction materials, medical supplies and services like what we’re talking about today: hotel rooms,” said Ellen Klem, director of consumer outreach with the state Department of Justice.
During a declared market disruption, hotels are barred from increasing their room prices by more than 15%.
Klem said consumers should be aware of construction scams as communities begin to rebuild. One way to avoid these scams is by looking up a contractor’s license number.
Consumers can report suspicious business activity on the attorney general’s website or by calling the consumer hotline at 877-877-9392.
Copyright 2021 Oregon Public Broadcasting
