EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The New Mexico Department of Justice issued cease-and-desist notices to several hotels after receiving complaints about potential price gouging due to the South Fork and Salt Fires.
The Department of Justice says they received almost a dozen complaints after last week’s press conference regarding potential hotel price gouging and encourages the community to continue submitting complaints.
The Department of Justice says cease-and-desist notices have been sent to “several Roswell hotels, The Baymont by Windham, The Clarion Inn, Days Inn, Holiday Inn, and Home2 Suites by Hilton. In addition, the La Quinta in Artesia has also received a cease-and-desist letter.”
Several complaints have reported that hotel bookings are being canceled with little to no explanation and are then rebooked at a higher price. Other complaints include alleged upcharging of hotel rooms due to the wildfires, according to the Department of Justice.
The notices request the hotels to stop engaging in “business practices that violate the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act which prohibits unconscionable business practices, such as exploiting consumers during an emergency.”
Individuals can report potential price gouging or fraudulent behavior by visiting the Department of Justice’s website at www.nmdoj.gov/get-help and completing the online complaint form. You can also call their office at 505-490-4060, and press option 3.
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