Dollar General overcharged customers, settles with state

Discount retailer Dollar General has reached a $1.55 million settlement with the state of Pennsylvania following an investigation that found widespread instances of customers being overcharged at the register compared to advertised shelf prices. 

The Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, which was filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, resolves allegations that the corporation violated the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law by misrepresenting prices, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office said in a statement Tuesday.

The state’s investigation uncovered numerous transactions where prices rung up higher than the price listed on store shelves at some of Dollar General’s more than 900 locations across the commonwealth, which includes stores in Falls Township and Langhorne Borough.

According to the attorney general’s office, the investigation also revealed that Dollar General stores failed more than 40% of pricing accuracy inspections conducted between 2019 and 2023.

“Our investigation found widespread and repeated instances of Pennsylvanians being overcharged at checkout — blatant deception of customers all over the Commonwealth,” said Attorney General David Sunday. “We are hopeful the corporation takes this settlement very seriously as Pennsylvanians expect to pay the price that is on stickers and labels.”

In addition to the $1.55 million payment to cover penalties and costs, the settlement requires the corporation to implement significant changes to its business practices to prevent future violations of Pennsylvania consumer protection law.

As part of the settlement agreement, Dollar General will have to follow the below steps at Pennsylvania stores:

• Train employees on ensuring price accuracy as well as their obligation to honor the lowest advertised price, including Dollar General’s obligation to provide price adjustments for overcharges;
• Maintain sufficient staffing to update shelf tags on at least a weekly basis;
• Ensure each store undergoes at least two unannounced pricing audits during each fiscal year;
• Conduct either an enhanced audit or full store assessment of each store that fails three or more price audits during a 12 month period;
• Correct all reported or known price inaccuracies within 24 hours; and
• Post a notice at each register (point of sale) stating that the lowest posted price will be honored and informing customers that they can seek a price override if necessary.

Consumers who see stores charging higher prices at the register than as advertised are encouraged to file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection online, over the phone at 717-787-3391, or by emailing [email protected].