Connecticut General Statutes, Section 42-133ff states: Nothing…shall prohibit any seller from offering a discount to a buyer to induce such buyer to pay by cash, check, or similar means rather than by credit card.

The Commissioner issued a letter June 9 to a Hess gasoline retailer at 2499 Berlin Turnpike in Newington, underscoring the need for clear and conspicuous signs advertising the gasoline cash discounts, so as not to confuse consumers as they ride by. The Department had received numerous consumer complaints after Hess changed its roadside gas price signs to promote a lower price for cash sales.

The Hess station was posting its prices with the “cash price” at the top of the street sign, leading many consumers to believe that was the price they would pay for Regular gas, only to learn that the price for Regular was another 20 cents per gallon more expensive, once they had filled up and paid with a credit card.

 Mr Farrell indicated that many gasoline retailers are changing their advertising and street signs in order to promote new cash discounts, creating the potential for consumer confusion.

“I very much support retailers having a cash discount program, but we have to make sure that it is done in a way that does not confuse consumers,” he said.

Mr Farrell said that one option stations could use for calling attention to the discount while conforming to usual sign format involves posting an adjacent sign that clearly promotes the cash discount, such as, “20 Cent Per Gallon Cash Discount.” Or, if space permits, cash and credit prices can be posted on a sign side by side for each of the three grades — regular, midgrade, and premium.

“These days, every penny makes a difference,” Mr Farrell said. “Gasoline prices must be clear and conspicuous, and conform with customary and usual practices.”

The commissioner reminded consumers that, when they do pay with cash, to be sure to get a receipt.

“For tax and businesses purposes, you may need to prove how much you spent on gasoline, so having that cash receipt in hand helps give you the proper ‘paper trail,’” he said.