Family Dollar to pay $63 million to settle claims it overcharged customers

Family Dollar has agreed to pay $63 million to settle allegations that it routinely overcharged customers by millions of dollars.The Federal Trade Commission and 17 U.S. states accused the budget retailer of failing to honor prices displayed on store shelves, on price tags and in advertisements. A proposed order bans Family Dollar from misleading customers on prices and requires the company to adopt what the FTC described as a "pricing accuracy program" that is independently assessed and certified annually. "Today's order will ensure Family Dollar stops deceiving consumers about its prices and returns money to consumers harmed by these practices," Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement on Thursday. Family Dollar operates more than 7,000 stores across 48 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. The Chesapeake, Virginia-based company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the settlement.