Home / Business and Economy / Dollar General Overcharges: $15M Settlement for US Shoppers
Dollar General Overcharges: $15M Settlement for US Shoppers
21 Dec
Summary
- Dollar General will pay at least $15 million to settle overcharge claims nationwide.
- Customers nationwide may be eligible for cash repayments or discounts.
- Settlement follows a Guardian investigation into over 4,300 failed price-accuracy inspections.
Dollar General is set to pay a minimum of $15 million to settle nationwide claims that it overcharged customers by charging higher prices at the register than displayed on shelves. This agreement aims to resolve lawsuits filed in several states, including New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. The settlement includes potential cash awards for documented overcharges, with claims potentially starting at $10 and rising to the full amount of the discrepancy. Shoppers without documentation may receive a $3 discount on a future purchase.
The settlement follows a December 3 investigation that uncovered over 4,300 government price-accuracy inspection failures since January 2022 across 23 states. Many affected stores are in rural or low-income areas. In addition to the monetary settlement, Dollar General has committed to hiring staff for price monitoring and conducting external audits to prevent future issues. The company has also agreed to pay Pennsylvania $1.55 million separately for similar pricing inaccuracies.
Assuming final court approval in March 2026, the national settlement offers broad eligibility for affected customers. Dollar General stated its agreement to settle is to avoid costly litigation, while denying wrongdoing. The company anticipates expenditures potentially exceeding the $15 million settlement value. In the unlikely scenario of a shortfall, remaining funds will be donated to a national food bank.
