LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning said that Wagner-Mentzer LLC will change its advertising practices and pay $20,000 to resolve allegations that it deceptively advertised gasoline to consumers at its BP gas stations, particularly in North Platte.
Wagner Oil Co. president Roy Wagner and Mentzer Oil Co. president Donald Mentzer, both of North Platte, own Wagner-Mentzer.
The AG's office received complaints that consumers, confused by the advertising, had pumped higher-priced gasoline into their vehicles when [image-nocss] they were expecting the electronically advertised price.
The change in signing will direct consumers to the pump that has the electronically advertised price, Bruning said. This clear signage should prevent consumers from unknowingly pumping expensive gas into their cars.
Under the agreement, Wagner-Mentzer and its owners agreed to change potentially deceptive advertising at its stations in Nebraska. When its cheapest gasoline can only be made available on a limited number of pumps, the company will advertise the price and location of its cheapest gasoline simultaneously on its electronic sign. Both price and location will be displayed for equal time and in equal size, font and wattage. The pumps dispensing the cheapest fuel will be conspicuously marked. Clear signage at each pump will also direct consumers to the pumps offering the lowest-priced gasoline.
Wagner-Mentzer will also make a $20,000 charitable donation to the community of North Platte.
Earlier this month, Bruning announced a similar deal with North Platte-based Wilkinson Development Inc., owned by Mark Wilkinson, which also agreed to change its advertising practices and pay $15,000 to resolve allegations that it deceptively advertised gasoline to consumers at its Conoco gas stations, particularly in North Platte. It also agreed to pay $5,000 each to the North Platte Area Children's Museum, the North Platte Community Playhouse and the North Platte United Way.
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