Several establishments around the state are being required to compensate customers after overcharging them.
As part of its routine inspections of price checks at various businesses, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division is fining four stores in Forsyth, Mecklenburg, and Moore counties for price scanning errors, including a few convenience stores and an autoparts store.
According to NCDA&CS, the following stores were recently discovered to have price-scanner errors in the third quarter of the year:
- Family Dollar at 1425 Waughtown St. in Winston-Salem:Fined $10,000 for failed inspections in July and September, with a 4.33% mistake rate and 13 overcharges on 300-item lots. The store, which has received multiple allegations of price-scanner difficulties in 2022 and 2023, will be reinspected.
- Circle K at 1400 Union Cross Road in Kernersville : Fined $1,140 for failing inspection in August with a 6% mistake rate and six overcharges on a 100-item lot. Following an initial examination in May that revealed three overcharges on a 25-item lot, the business will be reinspected.
- Family Dollar at 4455 Central Ave. in Charlotte : Fined $4,340 for errors uncovered in July and September, following an initial inspection in June that revealed a 5% mistake rate for five overcharges on a 100-item batch. Follow-up inspections indicated an 8% error rate for 24 overcharges on a 300-item lot and a 4.67% error rate for 14 overcharges on a 300-item lot, requiring the store to be reinspected.
- Advance Auto Parts at 1800 North Sandhills Blvd. in Aberdeen:Fined $495 for failing inspection in July after an initial inspection in June, with a 6% mistake rate for three overcharges on 50 products. When the store was tested again in September, it revealed no issues.
“Scanner errors cost consumers money,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler stated in a press release. “With the holiday season approaching fast, our Standards Division remains vigilant in inspecting stores across the state to ensure consumers are not being taken advantage of.”
The department makes unannounced inspections to examine price-scanner systems to ensure that advertised prices match those that ring up at registers. Stores that have more than a 2% mistake rate on overcharges will receive a “more intensive follow-up inspection.”
Previous price scanner errors at NC stores
Based on past department reports, this represents a state-wide improvement.
The Charlotte Observer reported in July that nine establishments were punished for overcharging clients. In April, fourteen shops were penalized.
To report scanner issues in North Carolina stores, call the Standards Division at 984-236-4750.