Indiana Officials Investigate BP Gas Recall

The Indiana Attorney General's office on August 22 opened an investigation to ensure BP quickly responds to consumers' complaints about vehicles damaged by contaminated gasoline that was distributed from storage terminals in Whiting and Milwaukee.

BP announced on August 20 it was recalling 2.1 million gallons of regular grade because it contained a higher level of a residue, which could prevent vehicles from starting, make it hard to start engines, cause the engine to shake, or cause the check engine light to turn on.

BP estimates about two hundred gas stations in northwest Indiana and the Chicago area, and another twenty in the Milwaukee area, received the tainted gas. BP said in a release on August 22 it is continuing to contact retailers who may have received tainted gasoline.

BP spokesman Scott Dean says the company will cooperate with the investigation. He said BP began adding staffers to the customer service lines as more than 5,000 people contacted BP on August 22 and another 2,000 contacted BP on August 23.

The company also added a second toll-free number for people to call. He also said BP would stand behind its guarantee of reimbursing customers for fuel-related repairs, will work to process claims as quickly as possible, and that people should save sales receipts from when they bought the gasoline and a copy of repair bills, saying it will help with the process.

Dean said BP will work with people who don't have receipts, although he said those might take longer.

BP asks customers who believe their vehicles were damaged by tainted gasoline to call their hotlines at 1-800-333-3991 or 1-800-599-9040 or to submit an online inquiry at www.bpresponse.com. Consumers can also file a separate complaint with the attorney general's office by visiting www.indianaconsumer.com or by calling 1-800-382-5516 to request a hard copy of the form.

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