FTC and 20 States Allege Dollar General Overcharged Millions at Checkout for Years
Lawsuit alleges widespread pricing errors
The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states filed suit against Dollar General on Monday, accusing it of charging customers more than advertised. The retailer operates 21,000 stores nationwide.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, says thousands of stores overcharged shoppers. It alleges that register prices routinely exceeded those displayed on shelves, price tags and advertisements.
Consumers relied on advertised prices
The FTC says shoppers depend on Dollar General’s low-price promises to stretch tight budgets. Prices that do not match advertised deals can make household finances harder to manage.
The agency also cited thousands of consumer complaints alleging that the company failed to honor advertised prices at checkout. The FTC said those complaints indicated Dollar General knowingly harmed customers.
FTC seeks court-ordered relief
The lawsuit alleges the pattern continued for years and affected millions of purchases across the country. The FTC and states accuse Dollar General of deceptive conduct that harmed consumers.
Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said Dollar General had betrayed consumers’ trust and caused significant financial harm. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The suit asks the court for a permanent injunction, as well as monetary and other relief.
Key points
- The FTC and 20 states sued Dollar General over alleged checkout overcharges.
- The complaint says pricing problems affected thousands of stores and millions of purchases.
- The agency says consumers depended on advertised low prices to manage tight budgets.
- The suit seeks a permanent injunction and monetary and other relief.