New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a consumer alert, urging caution among New York's Jewish communities regarding potential discriminatory pricing practices at car washes as Passover approaches. Past incidents have seen car wash establishments in Orthodox Jewish areas in New York City and the Hudson Valley raise prices for Jewish customers seeking cleaning services before the holiday.
Reports to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) have highlighted instances where companies falsely advertised "specials" for car washing related to Passover, while charging higher prices to Jewish customers and denying them regular rates. Under New York law, discrimination based on religion is illegal.
Attorney General James stated, "Taking advantage of someone’s religious observances and practices is offensive and unacceptable. As Passover approaches, I urge Jewish New Yorkers who feel that they may have been a victim of discriminatory price gouging to contact my office. My office has zero tolerance for any discrimination and anyone who engages in practices to unfairly raise prices on the Jewish community as they prepare for Passover will be held accountable. No New Yorker should be taken advantage of during a holiday season and forced to pay more for a service because of their religion."
The alert also extends to vigilance against price gouging on essential Passover goods and services. These include car washes, essential food items like eggs and kosher meat, matzah and kosher-for-Passover products, pre-holiday home cleaning services, as well as travel and accommodation services. Consumers who witness discriminatory practices or believe they have been unfairly charged are encouraged to file a complaint online or contact the OAG at 1-800-771-7755.