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The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from 18 stores in 12 counties because of excessive price-scanner errors.

“Our Standards Division remained diligent in its effort to protect consumers across our state in 2023,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Inspectors continued to find significant numbers of price scanner errors at stores across the state, which serves as a reminder that consumers should check their receipts and notify store managers if they see 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 2% 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%-or-less error rate. Additional penalties may be assessed if a store fails re-inspection.

Civil penalties recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023 included Family Dollar at 103 N. Main St., Norwood, which paid $14,790 in penalties.

The store failed 10 inspections between January 2022 and August 2023. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 3% based on nine overcharges in a 300-item lot.

The store paid $14,790 in penalties in October and passed a follow-up inspection in December. It still has a balance of $5,000 due from the failed inspection in October.

The Advance Auto Parts at 713 Albemarle Road, Troy, paid $405 in penalties. An initial inspection in June found an error rate of 8% based on four overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in July found an error rate of 3.67% based on 11 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed a follow-up inspection in September and paid its penalty in October.