Spike in Fuel Price Complaints

TALLAHASSEE, FL (AP) -- The state now says the number of complaints about gas stations hiking prices in the wake of Hurricane Ike has spiked.

The Attorney General's Office had received more than 70 complaints in Duval County alone, about gasoline price gouging; that's up from 5 on Sunday.

The office says 49 of the 70 gas stations they've received complaints about are Gate stations, but a spokesperson for Gate says they are victims, too, because their supplier raised prices and they are merely passing them along to the consumers.

The Attorney General's office announced it would ask four companies for documentation related to the prices the companies paid for gasoline and the price they sold it at.

Those companies were Flying J, Dodge's Gas Stores, Valero and Pilot Travel Centers.

The Attorney General's office said consumer complaints against these stations have been particularly high in several areas of the state.

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