Nine North Carolina retailers were fined again for overcharging customers

This year, Nine North Carolina retailers were fined over $162,325 combined for overcharging customers. The fines stem from excessive price-scanning errors identified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division.

Key Points:

1. Charlotte Region Fines:
2. • Family Dollar at 4005 Sunset Road, Charlotte: Fined $12,610 with an additional $5,000 penalty pending. Initial inspection in October 2023 revealed a 7% error rate. Follow-up inspections showed error rates from 6.7% to 19.3%.
   • Family Dollar at 7907 Idlewild Road, Indian Trail: Fined $23,575 with an additional $5,000 penalty pending. Initial inspection in March 2023 revealed an 18% error rate. Follow-up inspections showed error rates from 3% to 8%.
3. Statewide Fines:
4. • Family Dollar at 2206 West Webb Ave., Burlington: Fined $8,370 for four failed inspections.
   • Family Dollar at 1425 Waughtown St., Winston-Salem: Fined $37,345 for nine failed inspections.
   • Family Dollar at 550 MLK Blvd., Winston-Salem: Fined $52,215 for 11 failed inspections.
   • Walgreens at 2912 Main St., Walkertown: Fined $2,295 for two failed inspections.
   • Family Dollar at 1678 Ocean Hwy., Hertford: Fined $13,650 for five failed inspections.
   • Dollar General at 4500 Lebelia Road, Vass: Fined $915 for two failed inspections.
   • Target at 3001 Market Center Drive, Morrisville: Fined $1,350 for two failed inspections.
5. Inspection Details:
6. • Retail stores are inspected periodically and unannounced to ensure shelf and register prices match.
   • Stores are fined for failing to meet a 2% or less price-scanning error rate.
   • Stores with more than a 2% error rate are re-inspected every 60 days until they meet the standard.
7. State Fines and Compliance:
8. • So far this year, fines for overcharging customers have totaled over $419,195 across dozens of retailers in North Carolina.
   • Last year, fines totaled $462,480 for various stores including AutoZone, Circle K, Walgreens, and Walmart.
9. Customer Actions:
10. • Customers should check that prices at the register match those on the shelf.
    • Discrepancies should be reported to store employees and can also be reported to the state Standards Division at 984-236-4750.

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