Car Wash Took Advantage Of Jewish Customers Ahead of Passover: NY AG

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — A Hudson Valley business, accused of taking advantage of Jewish customers preparing for Passover, has been ordered by the New York AG to cease the predatory practice or face a fine.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office has stopped Super 4 Seasons, a Rockland County car wash company, from running a discriminatory scam that targeted Jewish customers preparing for Passover.

At issue is a tradition in the days leading up to Passover, in which many Jewish families clean their homes, cars, and other spaces to remove "chametz," or leavened products.

An Office of the Attorney General (OAG) investigation found that in the weeks leading up to the holiday, Super 4 Seasons advertised a "Passover Special" cleaning promotion, targeting Jewish customers, that cost more than three times the standard price for the same service.

Attorney General James is demanding that the company immediately stop promoting or offering any discriminatory car wash special and, if the company fails to do so, pay a $75,000 penalty.

"Targeting Jewish New Yorkers with deceptive pricing around Passover is a clear act of religious discrimination and will not be tolerated," James said. "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."

The AG's office opened the investigation into Super 4 Seasons in April 2024 after receiving complaints that the company was knowingly charging Jewish customers $169 for a service that was otherwise available for just $47.

As part of the investigation, the OAG conducted undercover testing, interviewed complainants, and reviewed thousands of the company's sales entries, according to officials. The OAG found that Super 4 Seasons had promoted similar Passover-specific services dating back to at least 2018, and that in the weeks leading up to Passover, Jewish customers had been routinely denied access to standard pricing and were falsely told that only the high-priced "Passover Packages" were available, investigators said.

The OAG investigation found that Super 4 Seasons posted promotional signs advertising that only "Passover Packages & Up" were available, falsely claiming that standard services were not offered ahead of Passover. When an OAG investigator dressed in traditional Orthodox Jewish clothing inquired about standard pricing, he was told the car wash is "not doing anything except shampoos and Passover cleanings right now," according to the office. The car wash employee even told the investigator, "We are doing this just for you guys," according to the findings.

However, when another OAG investigator who was not wearing Orthodox Jewish clothing asked Super 4 Seasons for the standard services, he was offered and sold standard-priced services, according to the investigators. When he inquired about the promotion, an employee responded that it was "for Jews," adding that they needed to pay more "because their cars are so dirty," OAG investigators reported. The OAG said it recovered sales records for this same period, confirming that regular services had in fact been provided throughout the holiday.

As a result of the OAG's investigation, Super 4 Seasons will immediately stop the discriminatory practices, and is barred from promoting or advertising car wash services that allude to special pricing for religious holidays, the AG's office said.

Super 4 Seasons is also prohibited from charging Jewish customers more than other customers for the same car wash services and is not allowed to change its pricing or limit available services in the two months leading up to and during Passover. If Super 4 Seasons fails to adhere to these terms, it will be required to pay a penalty of up to $75,000, according to James.

James also issued a consumer alert urging Jewish communities to be cautious of illegal and discriminatory practices ahead of Passover. She reminded New Yorkers to be vigilant against scams on essential Passover goods and services, including car washes, essential food items, matzah and kosher-for-Passover products, cleaning services, travel and accommodations.

Under New York law, it is illegal to discriminate against someone based on religion. Anyone who is aware of businesses using discriminatory practices or believes that they were charged more for services because of their religion, race, or background is being encouraged to file a complaint online or call 1-800-771-7755.