Price Gouging Laws

Just thought I would though this in for extra reading (Take a look at #7):

Disclaimer:
By posting this I am not implying that Home Med Products, Inc that I have mentioned in other posts practices price gouging. They have every right to do business as they see fit. And if that means selling the product three fold from what other companies sale the product for then so be it. It's a free country.
TN ST S 47-18-5102
WEST'S TENNESSEE CODE ANNOTATED
TITLE 47. COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS
CHAPTER 18. CONSUMER PROTECTION
PART 51--TENNESSEE PRICE-GOUGING ACT OF 2002

s 47-18-5102. Definitions

As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Building materials" means lumber, construction tools, windows, and anything else used in the building or rebuilding of property;

(2) "Consumer food item" means any article that is used or intended for use for food, drink, confection, or condiment by a person or animal;

(3) "Emergency supplies" includes, but is not limited to, water, flashlights, radios, batteries, candles, blankets, soap, diapers, temporary shelters, tape, toiletries, plywood, nails, and hammers;

(4) "Gasoline" means any fuel used to power any motor vehicle or power tool;

(5) "Goods" has the same meaning as provided in s 47-18-103(5);

(6) "Housing" means any rental housing leased on a month-to-month term;

(7) "Medical supplies" includes, but is not limited to, prescription and nonprescription medications, bandages, gauze, isopropyl alcohol, and antibacterial products;

(8) "Person" has the same meaning as provided in s 47-18-103(9);

(9) "Repair or reconstruction services" means services performed by any person for repairs to residential or commercial property of any type that is damaged as a result of a disaster or terrorist attack;

(10) "Services" has the same meaning as provided in s 47-18-103(10);

(11) "State of emergency" means a natural or man-made disaster or emergency resulting from terrorist attack, war, strike, civil disturbance, tornado, earthquake, fire, flood, or any other natural disaster declared by the president of the United States or by the governor pursuant to title 58, chapter 2, part 1; and

(12) "Transportation, freight, and storage services" means any service that is performed by any company that contracts to move, store, or transport personal or business property or rents equipment for those purposes.

CREDIT

Added by 2002 Pub.Acts, c. 807, s 2, eff. July 1, 2002.

T. C. A. s 47-18-5102

TN ST s 47-18-5102

END OF DOCUMENT

For other price gouging state laws click here.

The Nebulizer Saga Continues

I called to inquire the return of the nebulizer to the Home Med Products Inc. and to my surprise they wanted a $30 rental fee. Okay, now how is this fair. First they hit me with an unfair price for the Nebulizer and now they want me to pay a fee for using the Nebulizer that is over half of the original cost at other retail locations. I don't remember signing or agreeing to a rental fee. At what point is this right. I compare it to going to wal-mart and purchasing a products, lets say a bike. After a week I realize it was not what I wanted and return it. Would it be fair for them to charge me a rental fee, would anyone stand for that. I say no. So why should I stand for this company Home Med Products Inc trying to make me pay a rental fee for a product that is not satisfactory due to price.

It is time to take a stand against these companies and say no to inflated prices just to make a buck.

The Nebulizer

I received a bill to day from Home Med Products, Inc in Jackson Tennessee for a Pediatric Penguin Compressor Nebulizer Systems. The bill was for $173.88. I looked up the nebulizer online at many sites such as Amazon and found it to be at most $58.34.

The manager of the billing department said that this was the prices that Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee agreed to pay for the nebulizer and that is what I had to pay. After a long pause I asked what about if I do not use my insurance and just pay out of pocket.

The billing department manager said it would cost me over $220.00 for this $54.00 product. The billing department manager said that their cost where so high because they will replace it if it breaks.

Most all places I know do this anyway without upping the price. So my question is why am I suppose to pay 3 times more for a product that I can get for $54.oo.

How is this fair?!

How am I in my right mind suppose to pay a bill where the product is more expensive then the rest of the retail world. The billing department manager said "It goes against your deductible. " So what. I would rather the $54.00 go against my deductible then $174.00. This is money out of my pocket. What about people who can barely afford medical insurance and they get hit with this, are they suppose to just let their kids get more sick.

If companies like Home Med Products, Inc in Jackson TN would not up their costs so much then the Insurance people would not have to charge us so much for premiums and maybe everyone could afford health insurance. What a concept.

That's my thought.