Eighteen stores pay fines for price scanning errors

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from 18 stores in 12 counties because of excessive price-scanner errors.         

“Our Standards Division remained diligent in its effort to protect consumers across our state in 2023,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Inspectors continued to find significant numbers of price scanner errors at stores across the state, which serves as a reminder that consumers should check their receipts and notify store managers if they see an error.”

The department conducts periodic, unannounced inspections of price-scanner systems in businesses to check for accuracy between the prices advertised and the prices that ring up at the register. If a store has more than a 2% error rate on overcharges, inspectors discuss the findings with the store manager and conduct a more intensive follow-up inspection later. Undercharges are also reported, but do not count against a store. Consumers who would like to file a complaint about scanner errors they encounter, can call the Standards Division at 984-236-4750.

Penalties are assessed if a store fails a follow-up inspection. In addition to the penalties paid, the store will be subject to reinspection every 60 days from the last inspection until it meets the 2%-or-less error rate. Additional penalties may be assessed if a store fails reinspection.

Following are civil penalties recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023:

• (Burke) Food Matters Market at 210 Avery Ave., Morganton paid $555 in penalties. The store failed inspections in July and August. The store passed a follow-up inspection in October and paid its penalty in November.
   
• (Cabarrus) Circle K at 8501 Concord Mill Blvd., Concord paid $845 in penalties. An initial inspection in May found an error rate of 12% based on six overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in June found an error rate of 4% based on four overcharges in a 100-item lot. A follow-up inspection in August found an error rate of 4% based on three overcharges in a 100-item lot. The store passed a follow-up inspection in October and paid its penalty in December.
   
• (Forsyth) Family Dollar at 550 MLK Blvd., Winston-Salem paid $5,000 in penalties. The store failed eight inspections between February 2022 and August 2023. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 7.67% based on 23 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $5,000 of its penalties in October and still has an outstanding balance of $5,000 due from the failed inspection in October. The store will be reinspected.
   
• (Forsyth) Family Dollar at 1425 Waughtown St., Winston-Salem paid $12,795 in penalties. The store failed five inspections between November 2022 and August 2023. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 5% based on 15 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $12,795 in penalties in October and still has an outstanding balance of $4,550 due from the failed inspection in October. The store will be reinspected.
   
• (Forsyth) Family Dollar at 2017 South Broad St., Winston-Salem paid $3,110 in penalties. The store failed three inspections between November 2022 and March 2023. The store passed a follow-up inspection in June and paid its penalty in October. 
   
• (Franklin) Dollar General at 7794 N.C. Highway 96, Franklinton paid $4,320 in penalties. An initial inspection in August found an error rate of 30% based on 15 overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in September found an error rate of 14.67% based on 44 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid its penalty in November and passed a follow-up inspection in December.
   
• (Guilford) Dollar General at 600 Whitsett Ave., Gibsonville paid $1,635 in penalties. An initial inspection in August found an error rate of 8% based on four overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in September found an error rate of 5% based on 15 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid its penalty in October and passed a follow-up inspection in November.
   
• (Hertford) Family Dollar at 1216 East Memorial Drive, Ahoskie paid $15,000 in penalties. The store failed eight inspections between August 2022 and August 2023. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 14.67% based on 44 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $15,000 in penalties in October. It still has a balance of $5,000 due from the failed inspection in October.
   
• (Hertford) Family Dollar at 1678 Ocean Hwy., Hertford, paid $5,585 in penalties. The store failed three inspections between June and September of 2023. A follow-up inspection in November found an error rate of 4.67% based on 14 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $5,585 in penalties in October. It still has a balance of $3,190 due from the failed inspection in November. The store will be reinspected.
   
• (Hertford) Family Dollar at 849 West Main St., Murfreesboro paid $5,000 in penalties. The store failed inspections in June and July. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 14.67% based on 44 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed a follow-up inspection in September and paid its penalty in October.
   
• (Lee) Dollar General at 2461 Hawkins Ave., Sanford paid $3,330 in penalties. An initial inspection in June found an error rate of 6% based on three overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in September found an error rate of 6.67% based on 20 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid its penalty in October and passed a follow-up inspection in November.
   
• (Mecklenburg) Family Dollar at 8500-C Pineville Matthew, Matthew paid $7,995 in penalties. The store failed five inspections between December 2022 and August 2023. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 4.67% based on 14 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in December found an error rate of 6.67% based on 20 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $7,995 in penalties in October and still has an outstanding balance of $10,485 due from failed inspections in August, October and December. The store will be reinspected.
   
• (Mecklenburg) Family Dollar at 4130 Rozzlles Ferry Road, Charlotte paid $3,045 in penalties. The store failed inspections in July and August. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 8.67% based on 26 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $3,045 of its penalties in October and still has an outstanding balance of $3,695 due from a failed inspection in the same month. The store will be reinspected.
   
• (Mecklenburg) Target at 8120 University City Blvd., Charlotte paid $14,755 in penalties. The store failed seven inspections between September 2022 and September 2023. The store paid its penalties in October and passed a follow-up inspection in November.
   
• (Montgomery) Advance Auto Parts at 713 Albemarle Road, Troy paid $405 in penalties. An initial inspection in June found an error rate of 8% based on four overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in July found an error rate of 3.67% based on 11 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed a follow-up inspection in September and paid its penalty in October.
   
• (Perquimans) Family Dollar at 206 Ocean Highway, Hertford paid $15,000 in penalties. The store failed 10 inspections between January 2022 and July 2023. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 3% based on nine overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed a follow-up inspection and paid its penalties in October.
   
• (Stanly) Family Dollar at 103 North Main St., Norwood paid $14,790 in penalties. The store failed 10 inspections between January 2022 and August 2023. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 3% based on nine overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $14,790 in penalties in October and passed a follow-up inspection in December. It still has a balance of $5,000 due from the failed inspection in October.
   
• (Union) Family Dollar at 7907 Idlewild Road, Indian Trail paid $4,680 in penalties. The store failed four inspections between March 2023 and August 2023. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 6% based on 18 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in December found an error rate of 3% based on nine overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid $4,680 in penalties in October. It still has a balance of $6,905 due from the failed inspections in October and December. The store will be reinspected.

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