Connecticut Officials Investigating Priceline

Beleaguered Priceline.com, the name-your-own-price Internet auctioneer of airline tickets, car rentals and hotel rooms, is being investigated by Connecticut Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal, whose office is probing about 100 complaints of “incomplete and inaccurate disclosure” of the company’s sales policies, especially for airline tickets and gasoline. (Priceline has announced it will drop sales of gasoline.)

Blumenthal said many consumers complained that they bought airline tickets for trips on certain days but discovered later that Priceline had restrictions on what days or times people could fly. He said last week that the investigation is continuing.

Last month, the Connecticut Better Business Bureau revoked Priceline.com’s membership, according to a recorded message on the bureau’s phone line. The action was taken because of consumer complaints, according to the industry newsletter Travel Management Daily.

Priceline spokesman Brian Ek last week declined to comment directly on either action, except to say the company is talking with both bodies.

However, he added, “We believe our Web site is clear in regard to the services we provide, and we deliver what we promise.” The Web site is at https://www.priceline.com.