A man prays alone as Orthodox Jews gather for “Hoshanot prayers” as part of their Sukkot observance on a neighborhood lawn to avoid over-crowding at an indoor synagogue in the New York City suburb of Monsey, New York, US, Oct/ 5, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar

The New York State Attorney General’s office announced on Monday that it has stopped a car wash’s “discriminatory scam” that has for years targeted Jewish customers needing to clean their cars in preparation for Passover, which begins next week.

Super 4 Seasons, a car wash company located in Rockland County, offered an inflated price for Jews who were cleaning out the unleavened products, known in Hebrew as “chametz,” from their vehicles before the start of the Jewish holiday. An investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) revealed that in the weeks leading up to Passover, Super 4 Seasons advertised a “Passover Special” cleaning promotion that cost more than triple their standard price for the same service. The OAG launched its investigation after receiving several complaints claiming that Super 4 Seasons knowingly charged Jewish customers the significant price increase – $169 for a cleaning service that year-round cost only $47.

The OAG investigation discovered that Super 4 Seasons has promoted similar discriminatory car wash specials since at least 2018 in the weeks leading up to Passover. Jewish customers had been regularly denied access to standard pricing ahead of Passover and were also falsely told that only the over-priced “Passover Packages” were available.

Super 4 Seasons is located in Spring Valley, which is near Monsey and New Square, both of which have large Orthodox Jewish communities.

“Targeting Jewish New Yorkers with deceptive pricing around Passover is a clear act of religious discrimination and will not be tolerated,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. “Every New Yorker, regardless of their faith, deserves to be treated fairly and equally. My office will not hesitate to hold businesses accountable when they exploit families’ religious observance.”

James is requiring Super 4 Seasons to immediately stop promoting or offering any discriminatory car wash services that refer to special pricing for religious holidays. The company is forbidden from charging Jewish customers more than other customers for the same services and is not allowed to change its pricing or limit services in the two months leading up to and during Passover. If the company fails to comply with the OAG’s requirements, it must pay a penalty of up to $75,000.

The OAG investigation into Super 4 Seasons began in April 2024 and it included an undercover operation, interviews with complainants, and the review of thousands of the company’s sales entries.

An OAG investigator who went undercover dressed as a traditional Orthodox Jewish and asked Super 4 Seasons about standard pricing. He was told by the company that the car wash is “not doing anything except shampoos and Passover cleanings right now.” The car wash employee also told the investigator, “We are doing this just for you guys.” When a second OAG investigator, who was not wearing traditional Orthodox Jewish clothing, asked Super 4 Seasons for the standard services, he was given the regular, lower price. When he inquired about the promotion, an employee responded that it was just “for Jews” who needed to pay more “because their cars are so dirty.”

Last week, James issued a consumer alert, urging Jewish New Yorkers to be cautious of not only discriminatory pricing practices at car washes ahead of Passover but also price gouging on essential Passover goods such as food items, matzah, eggs, meat, travel, and accommodations. Under New York law, it is illegal to discriminate against someone based on religion. New Yorkers who are suspicious of businesses engaging in discriminatory actions or who believe they were charged more because of their religion, race, or background is encouraged by the OAG to file a complaint online or call 1-800-771-7755.