Charlotte stores have been fined for overcharging. What to do if it happens to you
Reports of North Carolina fining popular retailers for overcharging customers at the checkout counter have raised concerns about losing out on money.
However, there are steps you can take to rectify the situation if you see something wrong with your receipt.
Multiple Walmarts and Dollar Generals in and around Charlotte were recently fined more than $40,000 due to price scanning errors, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. And a total of 42 stores have been “fined across North Carolina during the first quarter of 2022,” the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division said in a news release announcing the fines.
That’s an uptick from recent years, according to state officials.
How to combat excessive charges
“As many stores continue to suffer from staffing shortages due to the pandemic, our Standards Division has seen a significant increase in stores with price scanner errors,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a statement.
If you notice you’ve been overcharged at a store, you can file a complaint with the Standards Division by calling 984-236-4750, the department noted in its statement.
If you paid by credit card and your charge was for $50 or more, you have 60 days to dispute the charge with your credit card company under the Fair Credit Billing Act, according to Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute.
The Standards Division recommends you should double-check the prices on shelves and on your receipt when you’re doing your shopping and checking out. If you catch an issue before you leave the store, you can bring it up to the cashier, a store manager or a customer service representative to have it addressed.
Observer reporter Catherine Muccigrosso contributed to the reporting of this story
