Attorney General says some car wash firms attempt to inflate prices by 50 percent to take advantage of increased demand during festival
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by Chris Chilton
4 hours ago
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by Chris Chilton
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If you’ve ever tried to book flights or hotel stays during school vacation time, regardless of whether you yourself have kids or not, you’ll know that those tickets and rooms cost a ton more than the ones a week either side. You might call it simple supply and demand pricing, capitalism doing its thing, or you might just say its downright unfair and the result of unscrupulous companies taking advantage of customers who don’t have the option to book different dates.
But now the Jewish drivers in New York are being warned of another scam designed to make money from people who don’t have flexibility in their diary. Attorney General Letitia James is warning residents that some car wash firms may try to cash in on extra demand in the run up to the Jewish Passover holiday in April.
Many Jewish people clean their homes – and also clean their cars – before the holiday to get rid of “chametz,” or foods that contain leavening products, because those foods are banned during the week-long festival to remind Jews of the Israelites fleeing Egypt with unrisen dough.
But the NY AG has received reports that car wash businesses in predominantly Orthodox Jewish communities in New York City have increased prices by as much as 50 percent in the days before Passover in previous years. Some companies have advertised Passover ‘specials’ that make it sound like drivers are getting a better deal, when in fact they’re being charged more.
“Taking advantage of someone’s religious observances and practices is offensive, discriminatory, and absolutely unacceptable,” said Attorney General James. “For millions of observant Jews in New York and beyond, Passover is an important holiday, and their preparations should be respected, not manipulated for profit. I urge any New Yorker who is concerned that they have been a victim of discriminatory behavior because of their religion, race, or background to contact my office immediately.”
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