Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced Monday that his office has joined the Federal Trade Commission and 19 other states in a federal lawsuit accusing Dollar General Corp. of long-running deceptive pricing practices.
What the complaint says
The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, alleges Dollar General charged customers higher prices at the register than the prices displayed on shelves, price tags and in advertisements. Griffin said the practice produced widespread consumer harm and cost shoppers millions of dollars.
“Arkansans shouldn't have to pay more at the register than the price they were promised on the shelf. Businesses have a responsibility to advertise their prices honestly, and those that deceive consumers must be held accountable,” said Attorney General Tim Griffin.
The FTC’s filing contends the retailer continued the practice despite receiving tens of thousands of complaints and having corporate knowledge of pricing errors. The agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection director, Christopher Mufarrige, wrote that the chain’s conduct “betrayed the trust of millions of American consumers and imposed significant financial harm on communities and consumers who are already struggling to make their paychecks last.”
States joining Arkansas
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Wisconsin
The complaint names Dollar General, based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. The company did not immediately provide a comment to the news organizations that reported on the filing.
Allegations and evidence cited
The suit asserts that:
- Thousands of stores engaged in pricing practices that resulted in overcharges at the register.
- Dollar General received tens of thousands of consumer complaints indicating the company did not honor displayed prices.
- The retailer failed to adopt sufficient safeguards or corrective measures to prevent the overcharges despite knowledge of the problem.
The states and the FTC seek remedies available under federal and state consumer protection laws. The filing says the conduct caused financial harm across many communities, especially consumers with limited financial resources.
Next steps
The case will proceed in federal court in the Middle District of Tennessee. The lawsuit is a civil enforcement action; it does not involve criminal charges. Dollar General may respond through the court by filing a motion, answer or other pleading as the litigation schedule dictates.
Arkansas consumers with questions or complaints about pricing may contact the Arkansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, which Griffin said will continue to pursue deceptive practices that harm state residents.
