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Wisconsin joins federal, multistate case alleging Dollar General overcharged shoppers
Wisconsin, the Federal Trade Commission and 19 other states are suing Dollar General over claims that customers were charged more at checkout than prices shown in stores and ads. The complaint says pricing problems at thousands of stores led to millions of dollars in overcharges.
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin has joined the Federal Trade Commission and 19 other states in a lawsuit accusing Dollar General of repeatedly charging shoppers more at checkout than the prices displayed on shelves, tags and advertisements.
Officials announced the case Monday. The complaint alleges the price discrepancies persisted for years at thousands of stores, resulting in millions of dollars in unlawful overcharges. It also claims Dollar General lacked adequate measures to prevent pricing errors and received tens of thousands of complaints from customers who said the company did not honor advertised prices.
The allegations have not been proven in court. The FTC says the conduct violates the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Wisconsin alleges violations of state consumer-protection and weights-and-measures laws.
“Prices that folks see displayed when they’re shopping should be the same as the prices they’re charged when they check out,” Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said. He said checkout prices higher than shelf prices should bring accountability.
Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection conducts price-verification inspections with municipal inspectors. The department’s secretary, Randy Romanski, said accurate advertised prices are a basic consumer protection and that inspections and customer complaints can help establish evidence in such cases.
Wisconsin shoppers can file a weights-and-measures complaint with DATCP at datcp.wi.gov or by calling 608-224-4942. The other states joining the case are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah.