As Hurricane Harvey approaches, complaints of price gouging begin

AUSTIN - Hours before Hurricane Harvey's landfall, state officials already were receiving complaints from Texans who claim stores and other businesses were jacking up prices as the storm surged toward the Texas coast Friday.

Attorney General Ken Paxton's office had received at least 75 consumer complaints related to Hurricane Harvey from Thursday through Friday afternoon, including one of a convenience store charging $7 per bottle for drinking water.

Some hotels, gas stations and other businesses have tried to take advantage of consumers in the face of major storms and natural disasters in past natural disasters, and state officials warned that consumers are likely to see these patterns during Hurricane Harvey.

"Anytime catastrophic storms hit Texas, we witness the courage of our first responders and the generosity of neighbors coming together to help their fellow Texans," Paxton said in a written statement. "Unfortunately, in the wake of the damage from storms and flooding, we also see bad actors taking advantage of victims and their circumstances."

He cautioned Texans to be "extremely cautious with people who may offer to help residents with rebuilding or repairs."

A spokesman for Paxton said Friday afternoon that there already was a report of a construction crew promising to quickly fix homes damaged by the storm.

John McGovern, who lives near Houston, went to an electronics store in Cypress to buy a USB phone charger when he saw a 24-pack of Dasani water going for nearly $43. By comparison, a two-hour Amazon delivery service is selling a 24-pack of Aquafina for less than $5.

"Nobody that I saw had touched it," said McGovern, who added that the water seemed out of place.

After a state disaster has been declared, as Abbott did Thursday, Texas law prohibits selling essentials such as fuel, food, medicine and other necessities at an "exorbitant or excessive price." It also applies to services like towing.

In 2008, Abbott, who was the attorney general at the time, filed several lawsuits against hotels that jacked up their prices during Hurricane Ike. Some hotels raised prices from 30 to 100 percent in the wake of Ike. Consumers also complained that gas stations were selling fuel at a higher price.

Under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, price gouging can carry civil penalties of up to $20,000 per violation and up to $250,000 per violation for victims over 65 years old.

Texans can report suspected fraud or price gouging at 800-621-0508.

Andrea Zelinski contributed to this report.