Dollar General settles multiple suits for $15 million. Suits claim the chain regularly overcharged customers.

Dollar General headquarters in Goodlettsville, Tenn.
(Wikipedia photo)

Dollar General, a company that promises affordable food and staples in communities with few options, agreed to a $15 million settlement after being accused of consistently charging higher prices at the register than the prices it displayed on shelves. Many rural and urban customers can apply for repayments, reports Barry Yeoman of The Guardian.

The settlement ends lawsuits in several states that claimed Dollar General "overcharged customers at many of its 20,000 U.S. stores," Yeoman writes. "Many of the stores are located in rural towns and low-income urban neighborhoods with limited retail."

The day before the $15 million settlement was announced, Dollar General announced it settled for $1.55 millions with the state of Pennsylvania to "resolve similar allegations," Yeoman adds. "The chain’s 900 Pennsylvania stores failed more than 40% of their pricing accuracy inspections between 2019 and 2023."

Provided the $15 million is approved by a New Jersey court in March, shoppers will be able to file a "claim award starting at $10 and rising to the full amount of the overpayment," Yeoman explains. Filers will need to provide documentation proving the overcharge, such as receipts or photos of receipts and shelving sale signs.

"Consumers who cannot supply documentation can still claim a $3 discount on one $10 purchase, available on certain days," Yeoman reports. "The company has denied wrongdoing in the cases."