Attorney General Warns Against Religious Price Gouging Ahead of Passover
As Passover approaches, New York Attorney General Letitia James is urging Jewish communities to be alert to possible discriminatory pricing practices, particularly at car washes and other businesses that may target pre-holiday consumers.
In a consumer alert issued last week, James cautioned that some companies, especially in areas with large Orthodox Jewish populations such as parts of New York City and the Hudson Valley, have allegedly raised prices for services associated with Passover preparations. This includes car washes, where observant Jews often seek services to help remove "chametz" — leavened products prohibited during the holiday.
The Attorney General’s Office cited previous reports of car wash operators advertising special Passover cleaning deals, only to later charge Jewish customers higher-than-normal prices or deny them access to standard service rates. James emphasized that such conduct could violate New York's anti-discrimination laws, which prohibit charging more for goods or services based on religion.
“Taking advantage of someone’s religious observances and practices is offensive and unacceptable,” James said in a statement. “Anyone who engages in practices to unfairly raise prices on the Jewish community as they prepare for Passover will be held accountable.”
The alert also warned consumers to watch for inflated prices on essential Passover items and services, including eggs, kosher meat, matzah, kosher-for-Passover products, home cleaning, and travel accommodations such as rental cars and short-term rentals.
The Attorney General encouraged anyone who suspects they have been subject to discriminatory pricing or religious targeting to file a complaint with her office online or by calling 1-800-771-7755.