The retail chain Dollar General, known for its low-cost offerings, has reached a settlement requiring it to pay a minimum of $15 million. This resolves allegations that customers were charged more at the register than the prices displayed on shelves.
Legal Actions and Consumer Impact
Multiple lawsuits in states including New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, and South Carolina led to this national agreement. Shoppers across the United States may now seek refunds for documented overcharges.
Marc Dann, a former Ohio attorney general whose firm represented customers, highlighted the effect on low-income shoppers. "They may have $10 or $20 or $25 to spend that week," Dann said. "They're adding that up in their head. When they get to the register, if there's a discrepancy, the worst part is not that they're getting overcharged. It's that they're putting stuff back."
Company Response and Additional Measures
Dollar General has denied any wrongdoing in these cases but agreed to the settlement to avoid prolonged legal costs. The company stated it was "to avoid further burdensome and costly litigation."
As part of the resolution, Dollar General will implement new measures, including hiring staff to monitor pricing and funding external audits. If the settlement receives final approval in March 2026, eligible customers can claim cash awards from $10 up to the full overcharge amount, with options for those lacking documentation.
Broader Context and Inspections
This settlement follows a separate $1.55 million agreement with Pennsylvania earlier in the month, where state officials cited widespread pricing inaccuracies. An investigation revealed that Dollar General stores failed over 4,300 government price-accuracy inspections since January 2022, particularly in rural and low-income areas.
Industry analysis suggests that staffing shortages contribute to these issues, as employees struggle to update shelf tags promptly despite register updates.
