Stores fined for price-scanner errors across NC

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services fined 10 stores in nine counties for overcharging customers in 2025.

The penalties were imposed by the ministry’s Standards Division after several stores failed unannounced follow-up inspections.

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According to the statement, the government conducts periodic, unannounced audits of price scanner systems to check the accuracy between advertised prices and the prices ringing at the cash register. If a store’s error rate is greater than 2%, the store is flagged for another review. If the store fails again, it will have to pay a penalty.

The stores penalized include Family Dollar, Circle K, Rural King, Staples and Dollar General stores in several NC counties. In the Charlotte region, stores in Mecklenburg, Catawba, Lincoln, Richmond and Watauga counties were fined.

These stores will be re-inspected every 60 days until they reach a 2% error rate or less, according to the state. Otherwise, more punishment may be given.

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