Coronavirus Updates
Basic Definition:
Under rules governing a disaster emergency, companies and vendors are prohibited from charging a price for consumer goods that exceeds 20% of the average price to which those goods / services were sold 7 days preceding the date of emergency declaration.
The PA Price Gouging Act:
“It shall be a violation of this act for any party within the chain of distribution of consumer goods or services or both to sell or offer to sell the goods or services… for an amount which represents an unconscionably excessive price.”
Price Gouging Settlements
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) with the several businesses after the Office received tips alleging price gouging. Under the Price Gouging Act, a price increase of more than 20 percent during a declared state of emergency is considered price gouging.
Fraud and Scams
If you fallen victim to a scam or fraud in Pennsylvania, during this crisis or before, please get in touch with our office to report it. File a complaint with our office or email scam@attorneygeneral.gov.
PA CARE Package
My office has launched ‘PA CARE Package’, Pennsylvania’s consumer relief initiative. ‘PA CARE Package’ is focused on partnering with banks and financial institutions across the Commonwealth to ensure Pennsylvania consumers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for economic relief.
This Pennsylvania program will implement and expand on the recently-passed CARES Act to protect Pennsylvania consumers.
Under the ‘PA CARE Package’ initiative, banks and financial institutions will be working with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection to offer additional important protections for consumers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To commit to the ‘PA CARE Package’ initiative, financial institutions and banks must offer additional assistance to Pennsylvanians facing financial hardship due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Expansion of small and medium business loan availability
- 90-day grace period for mortgages (at least)
- 90-day grace period for other consumer loans such as auto loans
- 90-day window for relief from fees and charges such as late, overdraft fees
- Foreclosure, eviction, or motor vehicle repossession moratorium for 60 days
- No adverse credit reporting for accessing relief on consumer loans
Participating Banks
Click a logo for additional details
Unemployment Resources
- EMPLOYEES AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS Unemployment Compensation or Workers’ Compensation benefits. Read More
Discrimination During COVID-19
See Attorney General Shapiro’s statement on bias and hate crimes here.
If you believe you have been targeted for unlawful discrimination in Pennsylvania, file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission on its website, www.phrc.pa.gov.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has published a series of COVID-19 Guidance pamphlets in multiple languages that are available on its website:
https://www.phrc.pa.gov/biasandhate/Pages/Covid-19-Guidance.aspx
Resources
- For the latest on cases around the US, visit the CDC website. Read More
- For the latest actions from Pennsylvania on COVID-19, click here.
- For updates from the PA Department of Health, visit their website. Read More
Health Insurance
- If you live in PA, medically-necessary COVID-19 testing will be covered for everyone without any out-of-pocket costs. If you’re not feeling well, ask your doctor if you should have a test.
- If you have health insurance through a major provider or a government plan, you’re covered for COVID-19 treatment. It will be free (or very low cost). Get treatment if you’re sick!
- If your insurance isn’t covering COVID-19 testing or treatment, or you have any other concerns about your insurance or healthcare provider, contact our Health Care Section: 1-877-888-4877 or by email by clicking here.