These 4 NC stores were fined for price scanning errors. Which overcharged customers?
Several stores across the state are being forced to pay up after overcharging customers.
As part of its routine inspections of price checks at different businesses, The N.C. 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 shop.
Here’s which stores were recently found with price-scanner errors in the third quarter of the year, according to NCDA&CS:
Family Dollar at 1425 Waughtown St. in Winston-Salem: Fined $10,000 for failed inspections in July and September with an error rate of 4.33% for 13 overcharges on 300-item lots. The store, which has had several other reports of price-scanner issues from 2022 and 2023, will be reinspected.
Circle K at 1400 Union Cross Road in Kernersville: Fined $1,140 after failing inspection in August with an error rate of 6% for six overcharges on a 100-item lot. After an initial inspection in May with three overcharges on a 25-item lot, the store will be reinspected.
Family Dollar at 4455 Central Ave. in Charlotte: Fined $4,340 for issues discovered in July and September after an initial inspection in June found an error rate of 5% for five overcharges on a 100-item lot. The follow-up inspections revealed 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, so the store will be reinspected.
Advance Auto Parts at 1800 North Sandhills Blvd. in Aberdeen: Fined $495 after failing inspection in July following an initial inspection in June with an error rate of 6% for three overcharges on 50 items. The store was found to have no errors again when checked in September.
“Scanner errors cost consumers money,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a news 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 regularly conducts unannounced visits to check out price-scanner systems to make sure prices advertised match with prices that ring up at registers. Stores found with more than a 2% error rate on overcharges will be given a “more intensive follow-up inspection.”
Previous price scanner errors at NC stores
Based on previous reports from the department, this is an improvement across the state.
In July, nine stores were fined for overcharging customers, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. In April, 14 stores were fined.
You can report scanner errors in North Carolina stores by calling the Standards Division at 984-236-4750.
This story was originally published November 12, 2024 at 11:51 AM with the headline "These 4 NC stores were fined for price scanning errors. Which overcharged customers?."
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