In 2025, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services fined 10 stores in nine counties for overcharging customers.
The department’s standards department issued the penalty decision after several stores failed unannounced follow-up inspections.
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The state conducts regular, unannounced inspections of the price scanning system to check the accuracy between advertised prices and those shown in the registry, according to a press release. If a store’s error rate exceeds 2%, it will be flagged for another inspection. If the store fails again, they must pay a penalty.
Stores fined include Family Dollar, Circle K, Rural King, Staples and Dollar General stores in several North Carolina counties. In the Charlotte area, stores in Mecklenburg, Catawba, Lincoln, Richmond and Watauga counties were fined.
In accordance with state regulations, these stores will be re-inspected every 60 days until an error rate of 2% or less is achieved. Otherwise, further penalties may apply.
Video: Several Charlotte-area Targets, Walmarts, Dollar Stores fined for overcharging customers