Beware the Fake Gas Prices

For those of you hitting the road this Labor Day weekend, be on the alert for gas stations "illegally overcharging" or advertising fake low prices. The Post reports that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is warning drivers about this practice, "Our investigation revealed that New York City is rife with gas stations that engage in deceptive practices where they display one price as a way to lure customers - and then charge them more at the pump." For instance, some stations' low prices are only for cash transactions (not that they specify that) and drivers using credit cards must pay surcharges. The Post has a graphic of some area gas stations pulling the bait-and-switch.

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By Jen Chung in News on August 29, 2008 8:25 AM

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ambage

Also at Shell on Classon Ave and Flushing.

picachuny

There also are couple of bait-and-switch Shell gas stations in Brooklyn I've noticed yesterday:

8815 20 Ave

544-558 Coney Island Ave

Outter Burrougher

if you're in your car this weekend, there's a good chance that you're driving out of the city. if that's the case, i implore you to heed the results of my lifelong investigation and wait until you're out of the city to get gas (though the recommendations of camarilla still apply).

camarilla

Discounts for using cash are kosher, but surcharges for using credit cards are not, as per Visa and Mastercard merchants' agreements.

Just camera phone a pic of the advertised price and the pump, and call up your CC company to dispute the surcharge. They'll mail you a statement to sign along with a request for additional information (the two pictures). Problem solved, and as a bonus the vendor is penalized.