Price Gouging Motels Fined, March 8

Four Oregon hotels/motels, including one on the Coast and another in Roseburg, have been fined by the State of Oregon for price gouging during last year’s wildfires. The establishments will reportedly pay $105,600 in penalties and reimburse at least 100 customers. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum identified the four as Le Chateau Inn of Florence. The motel reportedly charged $89 to $125 a night, but last September the rate was raised more than 15% for at least 18 rooms. The motel will pay nearly $2,200 to customers who stayed there in the settlement and pay the State $21,600 in penalties. Days Inn, Roseburg, raised rates from no more than $150 a night to $200 to $300 a night. They will pay $4,860 to 31 customers and pay the State $31,000. The other two were the Rodeway Inn, Corvallis, rates allegedly went up 15%. They will pay $918 to 23 customers and $15,00 to the State. The last was Capital Inn & Suites in Salem. Room rate was $60 to $80 a night but jumped to as much as $146 during the wildfires. They have already refunded $1,342 to customers and agreed to pay the State a $38,000.