Dollar General has agreed to pay at least $15m to settle allegations that it overcharged customers at many of its 20,000 US stores. The settlement resolves lawsuits in multiple states claiming shoppers saw one price on the shelf but paid a higher price at the register. Customers anywhere in the US may be eligible for repayments.
This is the second settlement Dollar General has signed this month. The company also agreed to pay Pennsylvania $1.55m to resolve similar allegations. The claims mirrored findings of a Guardian investigation which revealed that Dollar General stores failed more than 4,300 government price-accuracy inspections in 23 states since January 2022.
The five lawsuits that sparked the national settlement targeted operations in New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma and South Carolina. Law firms representing customers include one founded by Marc Dann, Ohio's former attorney general. Dann said shoppers most hurt by price mismatches are those with the least money, who may have to put items back at the register.
Assuming final approval at a March 2026 hearing in New Jersey state court, shoppers who document overcharges can claim a cash award starting at $10. Those unable to supply documentation can claim a $3 discount on one $10 purchase. The company also agreed to hire employees to monitor prices and pay for external audits.
Dollar General has denied wrongdoing but said it agreed to the settlement to avoid costly litigation. The company anticipates spending more than the official $15m settlement value; any shortfall will be donated to a national food bank organisation.
