Nixon fines more area businesses for price-gouging

The settlements are with Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, who has been investigating the more than 400 complaints of price-gouging filed with his office during and after the storm. The state prohibits charging excessive prices for necessities in disaster areas.

Nixon in May ordered seven other businesses to pay to settle price-gouging allegations. The latest settlements are with the following businesses:

• The Springfield Inn, 2355 N. Glenstone Ave., which will pay $7,900 in restitution, $1,000 to the Merchandising Practices Revolving Fund and a civil penalty of $1,100 to settle allegations that it substantially raised room prices after the storm;

• Super 8 Motel, 2830 E. 36th St., in Joplin, which will pay $711 in restitution and $750 to the merchandising fund, also to settle allegations that it raised room rates;

• Comfort Inn, 1900 W. Evangel, in Ozark, which will pay $2,720 in restitution, $5,000 to the merchandising fund and a civil penalty of $6,750 to settle allegations that it raised room rates;

• Melton’s 64/73 Junction, 699 State Highway 54, in Buffalo, which will pay $1,000 to the merchandising fund and an assessment of $1,000 in lieu of civil penalties to settle allegations that it increased its price for a gallon of gasoline by 50 cents after the storm; and

• Hometown Equipment Rental and Hardware, 304 E. Jackson, in Willard, which will pay an unfinalized amount of customer restitution, $1,000 to the merchandising fund and an assessment of $1,000 in lieu of civil penalties to settle allegations that it overcharged customers for kerosene.

Nixon also asks that consumers who paid more than $800 for a generator between Jan. 14 and Jan. 24 from Fastenal, 2109 E. Division St. in Springfield, to contact his office about a refund. Fastenal was one of the businesses ordered in May to pay restitution. Consumers with a valid receipt can call Nixon’s consumer protection hotline at (800) 392-8222.