The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division says it collected nearly $30,000 in fines from stores in 9 cities for excessive price-scanning errors including New Bern. Stores in Aberdeen, Lillington, Pembroke, Polkton, Raleigh, Selma, Wilmington and Wilson are also on the list.
The state department has random inspections of price-scanner systems 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 inspectors discuss the findings with the store manager and conduct a more intensive follow-up inspection.
Stores face fines if they fail the follow-up inspection, and additional penalties may be assessed if the store fails a re-inspection.
In New Bern, the Dollar General at 2666 Martin Luther King Blvd., was assessed more than $6,000 in civil penalties for excessive price-scanner errors. An initial inspection in December 2011 found an 8% error rate. A second inspection found a more than 13% error rate based on 41overcharges from 300 randomly selected items. An inspection in March found an error rate of 2.33%, so the store faces another inspection.
Consumers can contact the Standards Division at 919-733-3313 to register a complaint.
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