Dollar General overcharged millions at checkout for years, FTC and 20 states allege - CBS News
The FTC and 20 states have filed a lawsuit against Dollar General, alleging the retailer systematically overcharged customers by mislabeling prices at the register. The company claims these are occasional discrepancies and that they are working to improve accuracy.
Why it matters
This case highlights consumer protection concerns regarding large retail chains and the financial impact of deceptive pricing on low-income households.
The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states on Monday sued Dollar General, accusing the budget retailer of charging customers more for products than it advertised.The chain, which operates 21,000 stores nationwide, allegedly mislabeled prices for years, "extracting millions of dollars in unlawful overcharges," the FTC alleged."Dollar General has betrayed the trust of millions of American consumers and imposed significant financial harm on communities and consumers who are already struggling to make their paychecks last," Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. The FTC added that American consumers depend on Dollar General's advertised low prices to make ends meet on tight budgets, while prices that don't reflect advertised deals make it impossible for them to manage household finances.The agency filed its complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Dollar General's home state.
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