FTC and states sue Dollar General for years of overcharging customers

The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states filed a lawsuit against Dollar General, accusing the retailer of routinely charging customers more at checkout than the prices displayed on shelves, price tags, and advertisements, CBS News reported.

The complaint alleges that Dollar General, which operates 21,000 stores nationwide, mislabeled prices for years, resulting in millions of dollars in unlawful overcharges. The FTC described this as a betrayal of trust that financially harmed communities already struggling to manage tight budgets.

According to the lawsuit, thousands of Dollar General stores engaged in deceptive pricing practices that affected millions of purchases across the country. The company also faced thousands of consumer complaints about failing to honor advertised prices at checkout, suggesting the overcharges were intentional.

The FTC's complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Dollar General's home state. The suit seeks a permanent injunction against the company as well as monetary and other relief. Dollar General did not immediately respond to requests for comment.