The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from nine stores in Alamance, Forsyth, Hertford, Mecklenburg, Moore, Wake and Union counties for price scanning errors.
“July and August are busy travel months in our state and as you pick up your sunscreen and other vacation necessities be sure to check to see that the price at the register matches the price on the shelf,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Overcharges cost consumers, so we remain vigilant in inspecting stores to save people money.”
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 re-inspection 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 a reinspection.
Following are civil penalties recorded in the second quarter of 2024:
(Alamance) Family Dollar at 2206 West Webb Ave., Burlington paid $8,370 in penalties for four failed inspections. An initial inspection in Nov. 2023 found an error rate of 6% based on three overcharges in a 50-item lot. Follow up inspections in January, March and May found error rates of 7.67%, 8.33% and 3.67% based on overcharges in 300-item lots. The store will be reinspected.
(Forsyth) Family Dollar at 1425 Waughtown St., Winston-Salem paid $37,345 in penalties for nine failed inspections. An initial inspection in November 2022 found an error rate of 22% for 11 overcharges in a 50-item lot. Follow up inspections in January, April, June, August, October of 2023 and January, March and May of this year found error rates ranging from 8.67% to 4.33% on overcharges in 300-item lots. The store will be reinspected.
(Forsyth) Family Dollar at 550 MLK Blvd., Winston-Salem paid $52,215 in penalties for 11 failed inspections. An initial inspection in February 2022 found an error rate of 16% based on eight overcharges in a 50-item lot. Follow up inspections in April, July, September and November of 2022 and March, June, June August and October of 2023, plus January, March and May of this year found error rates ranging from 25.67% to 5% on overcharges in 300-item lots. The store will be reinspected.
(Forsyth) Walgreens at 2912 Main St., Walkertown paid $2,295 in penalties. An initial inspection in March found an error rate of 8% based on four overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow up inspection in April found an error rate of 4.33% based on 13 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store will be reinspected.
(Hertford) Family Dollar at 1678 Ocean Hwy., Hertford paid $13,650 in penalties for five failed inspections. An initial inspection in June 2023 found an error rate of 10% based on five overcharges in a 50-item lot. Follow up inspections in July, September and November of 2023 and in January found error rates ranging from 5% to 4.67% based on overcharges in 300-item lots. The store passed inspection in March.
(Mecklenburg) Family Dollar at 4005 Sunset Road, Charlotte paid $12,610 in penalties and owes an additional $5,000 in penalties. An initial inspection in October 2023 found an error rate of 7% based on seven overcharges in a 100-item lot. Follow up inspections in November 2023 and January, March and May of this year found error rates ranging from 19.33% to 6.67% based on overcharges in 300-item lots. The store will be reinspected.
(Moore) Dollar General at 4500 Lebelia Road, Vass paid $915 in penalties. An initial inspection in February found an error rate of 8% based on four overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in March found an error rate of 3.33% based on 10 overcharges in a 100-item lot. The store passed inspection in May.
(Wake) Target at 3001 Market Center Drive, Morrisville paid $1,350 in penalties. An initial inspection in February found an error rate of 9% based on nine overcharges in a 100-item lot. A follow-up inspection in March found an error rate of 2.67% based on eight overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in May.
(Union) Family Dollar at 7907Idlewild Road, Indian Trail paid $23, 575 in penalties for eight failed inspections. An initial inspection in March 2023 found an error rate of 18% based on nine overcharges in a 50-item lot. Follow up inspections in April, June, August, October and December of 2023 and February and April of this year found error rates ranging from 8% to 3% based on overcharges in 300-item lots. The store was inspected in June and assessed a $5,000 penalty for an error rate of 6.33% based on 19 overcharges in a 300-item lot.
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