ROMULUS, Mich. (WXYZ) – The Michigan Attorney General's Office has issued a cease and desist letter to a gas station near Detroit Metro Airport that reportedly overcharged customers by nearly $2 per gallon.
7 Action News spoke with the owner who said he believes he did nothing wrong and that customers can choose to shop wherever they want.
The attorney general's office said it received consumer complaints in October and November that the BP gas station at 9201 Middlebelt Road in Romulus was charging $1.50 or more per gallon compared to most nearby competitors.
Last week, the AG's office said a special agent visited the area twice and found the gas station selling gasoline for $4.74 a gallon.
Attorney General Dana Nessel sent a written notice of intended action against the gas station.
“As many people travel to and from our state in the coming days to spend the holidays with friends and family, we now emphasize that you should put an end to this pattern of seemingly grossly inflated pricing,” the AG’s office said in the letter . “If you have any additional information that could be used to justify your pricing, we would be very interested to receive it. Note, however, that your mere location would not be a satisfactory justification – even if it were (as one of the consumer complainants suggested). the explanation.”
The gas station has until January 8, 2024 to respond to the notice.
“I hope that this gas station takes this notice seriously and no further action is necessary,” said Nessel. “My office stands ready to investigate reports of businesses attempting to take advantage of residents, particularly during the holiday season.”
7 Action News spoke with the owner, Marvin Hadir, by phone.
He said: “Gas prices are of course regulated by supply and demand and consumers have the right to buy their goods and services anywhere.”
Hadir said he tried contacting the AG's office by phone to clarify the issue.
“We have made several calls and have not received a call back. To solve the problem, we want to find out why and how they think it is price gouging,” he explained.
“Is there a bonus there because you’re near the airport? Yes. Are we fuming? I don't believe. Not at all.”