A Whiteville Family Dollar store was one of 14 stores statewide fined by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division for price scanning errors during the final quarter of 2024.
The Family Dollar at 1138 South Madison St. in Whiteville paid $6,320 in fines after failing inspections. An initial inspection in July 2024 found an error rate of 14 percent for seven overcharges on a 50-item lot. An August 2024 inspection found an error rate of eight percent for 24 overcharges on a 300-item lot, resulting in a $2,385 fine. An October 2024 inspection found an error rate of 6.67 percent for 20 overcharges on a lot of 300 items. The store paid a $3,935 fine following that inspection. The store will be reinspected.
“Our Standards Division remained committed to protecting consumers across the state,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Our inspectors continue to find errors among price scanners at stores in the state, and consumers should be mindful. Take time to check your receipts and notify store managers if you find an error.”
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 two 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 reinspection every 60 days from the last inspection until it meets the two percent-or-less error rate. Additional penalties may be assessed if a store fails reinspection.
Other stores that were fined were in Wake, Hyde, Scotland, Lee, Forsyth, Union, Mecklenburg, Alamance, Camden, Gaston and Surry counties.
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