A group of five Family Dollar stores in northeastern North Carolina that were cited last year because of excessive price-scanner errors have been hit with additional fines after follow up investigations found the problems had not been corrected.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division said Monday they collected fines from a total of 37 stores in 22 counties because of the errors.
Family Dollar locations in Ahoskie, Edenton, Hertford, Swan Quarter and Windsor were fined a total of $89,025 for the violations found during inspections conducted in the fourth quarter 2022 and the first quarter of 2023.
“Our Standards Division closely watches stores to ensure that consumers are protected,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This is an important function to make sure North Carolinians are being charged the prices they see on shelves. While our work will continue, it is important for consumers to check their receipts regularly and notify store managers if they see a discrepancy.”
The department conducts periodic, unannounced inspections of price-scanner systems in businesses to check for accuracy between the prices advertised and the prices that ring up at the register.
If a store has more than a 2-percent error rate on overcharges, inspectors discuss the findings with the store manager and conduct a more intensive follow-up inspection later.
Undercharges are also reported, but do not count against a store. Consumers who would like to file a complaint about scanner errors they encounter, can call the Standards Division at 984-236-4750.
Penalties are assessed if a store fails a follow-up inspection. In addition to the penalties paid, the store will be subject to re-inspection every 60 days from the last inspection until it meets the 2-percent-or-less error rate. Additional penalties may be assessed if a store fails a reinspection.
Details of the civil penalties recorded in the first quarter of 2023 against stores located in northeastern N.C.:
- Family Dollar at 1216 East Memorial Drive, Ahoskie paid $20,000 in penalties. An initial inspection in August 2022 found an error rate of 24 percent based on 12 overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in September found an error rate of 12.67 percent based on 38 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 33 percent based on 99 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in December found an error rate of 31.67 percent based on 95 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in February found an error rate of 11 percent based on 33 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store will be reinspected.
- Family Dollar at 1823 Virginia Road, Edenton paid $7,930 in penalties. An initial inspection in October 2022 found an error rate of 18 percent based on nine overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in November found an error rate of 15 percent based on 45 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in January found an error rate of 5.67 percent based on 17 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in March with a 2 percent error rate.
- Family Dollar at 206 Ocean Highway, Hertford paid $32,685 in penalties. An initial inspection in January 2022 found an error rate of 28 percent based on 14 overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in March found an error rate of 8 percent based on 24 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in May found an error rate of 10 percent based on 30 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in July found an error rate of 9.67 percent based on 29 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in September found an error rate of 10.67 percent based on 32 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in November found an error rate of 18.67 percent based on 56 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in January found an error rate of 13 percent based on 39 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in March found an error rate of 7 percent based on 21 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store will be reinspected.
- Family Dollar at 13115 U.S. 264, Swan Quarter paid $13,410 in penalties. An initial inspection in August 2022 found an error rate of 26 percent based on 13 overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in September found an error rate of 24 percent based on 72 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in November found an error rate of 6 percent based on 18 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in January found an error rate of 8.33 percent based on 25 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in March with a 1 percent error rate.
- Family Dollar at 1307 South St., Windsor paid $15,000 in penalties. An initial inspection in August 2022 found an error rate of 32 percent based on 16 overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in September found an error rate of 22.67 percent based on 68 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in November found an error rate of 23.67 percent based on 71 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in January found an error rate of 23 percent based on 69 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store will be reinspected.