Walmart, Target, Dollar General stores in Charlotte fined for overcharging customers

Gabe Castro-Root
Herald/Bob Brawdy/Herald/Bob Brawdy

North Carolina is seeing a significant increase in store checkout errors that result in customers paying more, according to a state agency.

Eight stores in Mecklenburg County — four Walmarts, three Dollar Generals and one Target — were fined a total of $63,505 for price scanning errors, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division said Wednesday.

“It is always a good practice for consumers to check their receipts as well as the price on the shelf to make sure that they are paying the correct amount and alert managers if they are not correct,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in the news release.

Other fines in the Charlotte area were issued at two stores in Union County, two stores in Rowan County, one in Iredell County and one in Catawba County.

In total, the state fined 61 stores in 32 counties for scanner errors recorded in the second quarter of this year.

Earlier this year, several Walmart and Dollar General stores in the Charlotte area were fined a combined $42,165 for overcharges in the first quarter, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

Overcharges in stores

State workers conduct periodic, unannounced inspections in retail stores to see if prices on the shelf match prices at the register. Here’s what they found in the Charlotte area:

  • Dollar General at 7322 The Plaza, Charlotte has paid $13,745 in fines. An initial inspection in November 2021 found a 40% error rate, where 20 items out of 50 had the wrong price at checkout. Subsequent inspections from December to June found 23.67%, 16.33%, 8% and 8.67% error rates, respectively. The store will be reinspected.

  • Dollar General at 10018 Albemarle Road, Charlotte has paid $15,000 in fines. An initial inspection in November 2021 found a 24% error rate among 50 items. Subsequent inspections from December to April found 20.67%, 20% and 20% error rates, respectively. The store will be reinspected.

  • Dollar General at 6201 South Blvd., Charlotte has paid $3,480 in fines. An initial inspection in April found a 20% error rate among 50 items. A subsequent inspection in June found 12.33% error rate. The store will be reinspected.

  • Target at 9841 Northlake Centre Pkwy., Charlotte has paid $8,540 in fines. An initial inspection in November 2021 found a 6% error rate among 100 items. Subsequent inspections in December 2021 and February found 7% and 6.67% error rates, respectively. The store passed inspection in April.

  • Walmart at 3209 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte has paid $6,185 in fines. An initial inspection in October 2021 found a 12% error rate among 50 items. Subsequent inspections in November 2021 and February found 5.67% and 9.33% error rates, respectively. The store passed inspection in April.

  • Walmart at 7735 North Tryon St., Charlotte has paid $9,785 in fines. An initial inspection in October 2021 found a 7% error rate among 100 items. Subsequent inspections from November to June found 7%, 9.33% and 7% error rates, respectively. The store passed inspection in June.

  • Walmart at 11145 Bryton Town Center Drive, Huntersville has paid $5,000 in fines. An initial inspection in February found a 10% error rate among 100 items. Subsequent inspections in March and May found 13% and 4.67% error rates, respectively. The store will be reinspected.

  • Walmart at 3240 Wilkinson Blvd., Charlotte has paid $1,770 in fines. An initial inspection in February found an 8% error rate among 100 items. A subsequent inspection in March found a 4.33% error rate. The store passed inspection in May.

  • Dollar General at 1304 Conover Blvd. E., Conover has paid $870 in fines. An initial inspection in February found a 12% error rate among 50 items. A subsequent inspection in March found a 2.67% error rate. The store passed inspection in May.

  • Dollar General at 218 East Plaza Drive, Mooresville has paid $1,320 in fines. An initial inspection in April found a 30% error rate among 50 items. A subsequent inspection in May found a 3.67% error rate. The store will be reinspected.

  • Dollar General at 335 North Salisbury Ave., Spencer has paid $5,000 in fines. An initial inspection in March found a 16% error rate among 50 items A subsequent inspection in April found an 18% error rate. The store will be reinspected.

  • Dollar General at 8790 Woodleaf Road, Woodleaf has paid $810 in fines. An initial inspection in March found a 12% error rate among 50 items. A subsequent inspection in April found a 2.33% error rate. The store will be reinspected.

  • Dollar General at 505 Jones St., Marshville has paid $15,000 in fines. An initial inspection in October 2021 found a 20% error rate among 50 items. Subsequent inspections from November to April found 20.67%, 21%, and 12.33% error rates, respectively. The store passed inspection in June.

  • Walmart at 2101 Younts St., Indian Trail has paid $11,745 in fines. An initial inspection in August 2021 found a 4% error rate among 100 items. Subsequent inspections from September to March found 4.67%, 3.33%, 3.33% and 3% error rates, respectively. The store passed inspection in May.

Charlotte stores have been fined for overcharging. What to do if it happens to you

How inspections work

If inspectors are overcharged for more than 2% of items, they talk with the store manager and return later to check prices again, according to the agency.

A store is fined if it fails the second inspection, and is reinspected every 60 days until its error rate falls to 2% or below. Additional fines can be issued if a store fails re-inspection, the agency said.

What to do if you’ve been overcharged

If you notice an error before you leave the store, bring it up to a cashier, manager or customer service representative. If you’ve already left the store, you can file a complaint with the Standards Division at 984-236-4750.

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