FTC and 20 States Sue Dollar General Over Checkout Overcharges
The complaint alleges the chain routinely charged more at checkout than its shelf labels and ads, ignoring tens of thousands of complaints. Here is how to protect yourself at any store.
The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states have sued Dollar General, alleging that for years the chain routinely charged customers more at the register than the prices on its shelves, price tags and ads, costing shoppers millions of dollars, the FTC said October 26. The states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.
According to the complaint, filed in federal court in Tennessee, Dollar General received tens of thousands of complaints that it did not honor advertised prices but failed to fix the problem. The company, which runs more than 21,000 stores, has not had its day in court; these are the government's allegations, not findings.
Wherever you shop, a few habits catch overcharges: watch the screen as items are scanned, keep the receipt, and compare it before leaving. Snap a photo of a shelf tag if the price matters. If you are charged more than the posted price, ask for the difference at the register or customer service; some states require stores to honor the lower price or pay a set amount. You can report overcharges to your state attorney general or weights-and-measures office, and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Sources