Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced Monday that the state has joined the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 19 other states in a lawsuit against Dollar General, accusing the retailer of deceptive pricing practices.
According to Griffin, Dollar General has allegedly charged customers more at checkout than the prices displayed on shelves, price tags, and advertisements. He stated that this mispricing has cost consumers millions of dollars and claimed that the company failed to address the issue despite being aware of it at the corporate level.
“Arkansans shouldn’t have to pay more at the register than the price they were promised on the shelf,” Griffin said in a statement. “Businesses have a responsibility to advertise their prices honestly, and those that deceive consumers must be held accountable. My office will continue cracking down on deceptive practices that hurt Arkansas consumers.”
The lawsuit claims Dollar General’s actions violate the FTC Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and Arkansas state law.
Other states participating in the lawsuit include Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.
Griffin emphasized the importance of consumer protection and pledged to pursue accountability for misleading practices.