The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states sued Dollar General on October 26, alleging that the retailer routinely charged shoppers more at checkout than the prices displayed on shelves, price tags and advertisements.
The FTC says the company received tens of thousands of complaints about advertised prices it failed to honor. Regulators allege that Dollar General knew about the discrepancies but did not put adequate safeguards in place, costing consumers millions of dollars over several years.
Dollar General operates more than 21,000 stores nationwide, according to the agency. The FTC says accurate prices are particularly important for the chain's low- and fixed-income customers, who depend on its inexpensive household goods.
The case record lists the lawsuit as pending in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. The complaint seeks a permanent injunction, monetary relief, civil penalties and other relief. These are requests to the court. The filing does not establish a shopper-refund program, payment amount or claims deadline.
The FTC's commissioners voted 2-0 to authorize the complaint, which alleges violations of the FTC Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and state laws.
The states joining the action are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.
