A Judge may fine NRI gas Station owner, for selling gas below the state's minimum markup

MERRILL, Wisconsin, May 08, 2007
Sant Parkash Singh

NRI Raj Bhandari, owner of Merrill service station "Center City BP", Wisconsin received a letter from the state auditor last month saying the state would sue him if he did not raise his prices. The state could penalize him for each discounted gallon he sold, with the fine determined by a judge.

With gasoline prices rising, he made an attractive offer to senior citizens a 2 cent per gallon price break and discount cards that let sports boosters pay 3 cents less per gallon.

The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says those deals violate Wisconsin's Unfair Sales Act, which requires stations to sell gas for about 9.2 percent more than the wholesale price. The law had been explained to retailers in a December 2003 letter.

Bhandari has owned the Merrill store since May 2006. He said he was unaware the offers -- a card supporting the Merrill Youth Hockey Association and a senior discount - violated Wisconsin's Unfair Sales Act, according to the local paper. He said he informed his customers the discounts had ended but worries they think he halted the offers to make more money. Bhandari said he could be sued by the state if he continued the discounts.

One customer said, "He bought a $50 card to support the local youth hockey program. It would have saved him about $100 per year on gas."