Typhoon Yutu Archives - Office of the Attorney General

Price freeze remains in effect for the CNMI

CNMI OAG — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 22:51:06 +0000

Price freeze remains in effect for the CNMI

The Office of the Attorney General would like to remind all retailers in the CNMI that the Declaration of Price Freeze signed by Governor Ralph DLG. Torres on October 27, 2018 remains in effect until it is rescinded, or until the declaration of emergency or disaster are terminated, whichever occurs first. Governor Ralph DLG. Torres issued a Renewal of Declaration of Major Disaster and State of Significant Emergency on March 22, 2019, extending the price freeze for the Northern Mariana Islands for an additional thirty days.

While in effect, it is illegal for any person or business to raise the price of items for sale or the cost of housing rentals, to include apartments and condos. A person or business found to be in violation of the Consumer Disaster Price Freeze Act can be prosecuted criminally or civilly, and can face up to a $10,000 fine and up to one year in jail for each violation.

If you have information about price gouging, you should submit a written complaint to the Office of the Attorney General, along with copies of all receipts, invoices, or other documents associated with the complained-of transaction. Make sure you keep your original documents for your own records.

Complaint forms may be obtained at www.cnmioag.org under the Consumer Protection section or in person at the Civil Division on Capitol Hill from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, or via email by sending a request to consumer_counsel@cnmioag.org. When submitting a written complaint, include as much information as possible, including (1) your name and contact information, (2) the name of the business subject to the complaint and its location, (3) the nature of the complaint, (4) the date of the purchase or payment, (5) the amount paid, (6) if known, the amount charged prior to Typhoon Yutu, (7) any other details that support the complaint, and (8) copies of receipts, invoices, or other documents that support the complaint. Complaints should be hand delivered to the Civil Division on Capitol Hill or submitted via email. Inquiries regarding consumer protection complaints should be directed to Assistant Attorney General Michele
Harris at consumer_counsel@cnmioag.org or (670) 237-7500.

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Price freeze in effect for the CNMI

CNMI OAG — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 12:46:19 +0000

Price freeze in effect for the CNMI

Super Typhoon Yutu struck the Commonwealth on October 25, 2018. Consumers should be aware, and retailers are on notice, that it is illegal to engage in price gouging following a major disaster.

The Consumer Protection Act makes it unlawful for businesses to engage in price gouging. Price gouging occurs when a business increases prices based solely on a shortage of goods caused by a natural disaster or any other emergency. The Office of the Attorney General will prosecute, both criminally and civilly, any business that engages in price gouging.

The Governor declared a price freeze pursuant to the Consumer Disaster Price Freeze Act on October 27, 2018, which will be in effect until he rescinds all declarations of emergency, disaster or price freeze.

The price of the following items are frozen:

Gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, natural gas, and all other chemical fuels, whether in gaseous, liquid, or solid form;
All foods and foodstuffs, including water, bottled water, beverages, and ice;
All clothing;
Flashlights, lamps, lanterns, candles, light bulbs, and other means of illumination;
Generators, cables, wires, electrical batteries of every sort, and similar equipment for the generation and/or transmission of electrical power;
All appliances used in the storage and/or preparation of food, including, but not limited to, stoves, barbecue grilles, ovens, refrigerators, and coolers;
Tools typically used for construction, ground clearing, or home repairs, whether electrically powered, chemically powered, or manual, including, but not limited to, saws, machetes, hammers, drills, shovels, rakes, and brooms.
All bedding items, including pillows, futons and blankets.

It is illegal for any person or business to raise the price of any of the above-listed items while a price freeze is in effect. A violation of the Consumer Disaster Price Freeze Act is punishable by a $10,000 fine and one year of imprisonment for each violation.

Please contact the Office of the Attorney General if you observe price gouging. For more information contact Assistant Attorney General Bob Pickett, Consumer Counsel of the Office of the Attorney General, at 237- 7500, or email him at consumer_counsel@cnmioag.org. Additional information can be found at www.cnmioag.org under Consumer Protection.

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Consumer alert on price gouging

CNMI OAG — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 02:28:50 +0000

Consumer Alert on Price Gouging

In anticipation of Typhoon Yutu, the Office of the Attorney General encourages consumers to report incidents of price gouging. Attorney General Manibusan warns retailers that the Consumer Protection Act makes it unlawful for any business to engage in price gouging.

Attorney General Edward Manibusan explains, “price gouging occurs when a business increases prices based on the shortage of goods caused by a natural disaster or any other emergency.” He added, “the Office of the Attorney General will prosecute, both criminally and civilly, any business that engages in price gouging.”

To assist with the investigation of price gouging, affected consumers should submit a written complaint to the Office of the Attorney General along with copies of all receipts, invoices, or other documents associated with the complained-of transaction. Consumers should save all receipts, invoices, and other documents related to price gouging. When submitting a complaint to the Office of the Attorney General, consumers should submit copies of any supporting documents and retain the originals for their own records.

Complaint forms may be obtained at www.cnmioag.org under the Consumer Protection section or in person at the Civil Division on Capitol Hill from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, or via email by sending a request to consumer_counsel@cnmioag.org. Consumers who cannot obtain a complaint form may submit a written complaint that includes (1) the name of the consumer and his or her contact information, (2) the name of the business and its location, (3) a description of goods or services purchased, (4) the date of the purchase, (5) the price paid for goods or services, (6) the price of the goods or services prior to Typhoon Yutu, (7) any other details that support the complaint, and (8) copies of receipts, invoices, or other documents that support the complaint. Complaints should be hand delivered to the Civil Division on Capitol Hill or submitted via email.

Inquiries regarding consumer protection complaints should be directed to Assistant Attorney General Bob Pickett at consumer_counsel@cnmioag.org or (670) 237-7500.

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