Stores pay penalties for price-scanning errors

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division recently collected fines from stores in Charlotte, Cornelius, Fayetteville, Kings Mountain, Lawndale, Lexington and Yanceyville for excessive price-scanning errors.

The Standards Division conducts periodic, unannounced inspections of a business’ price-scanner system 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 at a later date. Undercharges are also reported, but do not count against a store.

“Consumers are watching their purchases closely and looking for sales in today’s economy,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “By checking the accuracy of price-scanning systems in retail stores, we are helping to ensure that when shoppers get to the checkout counter, they get the advertised price. Consumers can contact our Standards Division at 919-707-3225 to register a complaint.”

Penalties are assessed if a store fails the 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 rate. Additional penalties may be assessed if the store fails a re-inspection.

Following are stores that paid civil penalties in the first quarter of 2014:

CVS #6518 at 11430 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, paid $2,010 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in November 2013 revealed an error rate of 4 percent, based on 4 overcharges on an inspection lot of 100 randomly selected items. A second inspection in January found an error rate of 10 percent, based on 30 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in March with an error rate of .67 percent based on two overcharges in a 300-item lot.

Target #762 at 9531 South Blvd., Charlotte, paid $3,285 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in November 2013 revealed an error rate of 15 percent, based on 15 overcharges on an inspection lot of 100 randomly selected items. A second inspection in January found an error rate of 9 percent, based on 27 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store was assessed and paid a $3,285 fine. The store was inspected again in March and had an error rate of 3 percent, based on nine overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store was assessed an additional penalty of $1,130 and will be re-inspected.

The Fresh Market #104 at 20623 Torrence Chapel, Cornelius, paid $1,800 in civil penalties. The first inspection in January found an error rate of 3 percent, based on three overcharges out of 100 randomly selected items. In February, a second inspection found an error rate of 3.33 percent, based on 10 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store was assessed an $1,800 fine, which it paid. The store will be re-inspected.

Family Dollar #4894 at 3043 Legion Road, Fayetteville, paid $3,015 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in September 2013 found an error rate of 8 percent, based on four overcharges out of 50 randomly selected items. In October 2013, a second inspection found an error rate of 6.67 percent, based on 20 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store was assessed and paid a $3,015 fine. The store will be re-inspected.

Family Dollar #8091 at 160 Andrews Road, Fayetteville, paid $1,875 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in August 2013 found an error rate of 4 percent, based on four overcharges out of 100 randomly selected items. In September 2013, a second inspection found an error rate of 3.67 percent, based on 11 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store was assessed and paid a $1,875 fine. The store passed a re-inspection in December.

Dollar General #1971 at 709 York Road, Kings Mountain, paid a total of $3,253 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in August 2013 found an error rate of 6 percent based on three overcharges out of 50 randomly selected items. In October 2013, a second inspection found an error rate of 2.33 percent, based on seven overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid a $398 fine. A third inspection in January found an error rate of 6.33 percent, based on 19 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid a $2,855 fine. The store passed re-inspection in March.

Dollar General #10117 at 4820 Fallston Road, Lawndale, paid a total of $8,470 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in August 2013 found an error rate of 8 percent, based on four overcharges out of 50 randomly selected items. In September 2013, a second inspection found an error rate of 3 percent, based on nine overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid a $1,740 fine. A third inspection in December 2013 found an error rate of 5.33 percent, based on 16 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store paid a $1,730 fine. A fourth inspection in February found an error rate of 6 percent, based on 18 overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store paid a $2,935 fine. The store will be re-inspected.

Wal-Mart #1322 at 160 Lowes Blvd., Lexington, paid $1,020 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in October 2013 found an error rate of 4 percent based on four overcharges out of 100 randomly selected items. In December 2013, a second inspection found an error rate of 2.67 percent, based on eight overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store paid a $1,020 fine. In February, the store was re-inspected and passed.

Dollar General #3928 at 1740 N.C. Highway 86 N., Yanceyville, paid a total of $2,398 in civil penalties. An initial inspection in August 2013 found an error rate of 6 percent, based on three overcharges out of 50 randomly selected items. In October 2013, a re-inspection found an error rate of 3.33 percent, based on 10 overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store paid a $533 fine. A third inspection in January found an error rate of 4.67 percent, based on 14 overcharges on a 300-item lot. The store paid an added fine of $1,865. The store passed its March inspection.

Each store could have been assessed a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation under the Weights and Measures Act of 1975. Money collected from civil penalties is distributed to school systems statewide.