FTC and 20 states sue Dollar General, alleging shoppers routinely charged more than advertised

The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states sued Dollar General on Monday, alleging the discount chain has for years charged customers more at the register than the prices displayed on shelves, price tags, weekly circulars and its app, Reuters and the FTC reported.

The 95-page complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, says the retailer logged at least 29,265 customer complaints labelled “Did Not Honor Marked Price” between January 1, 2023, and March 31, 2026, from all 48 states where it operates. The complaint alleges the company collected millions of dollars in overcharges while knowing about the problem and failing to fix it.

FTC investigators making undercover shopping trips in 2026 each found overcharges on multiple products, leaving a net overcharge on every trip. Dollar General operates more than 21,000 stores, serving many low- and fixed-income customers, the FTC said.

“Dollar General has 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,” said Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Since 2019, Dollar General has paid $6 million in settlements with six states over inaccurate pricing, Reuters reported. Dollar General did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters, the Associated Press and CNBC on Monday. The claims are allegations, not court findings.

Sources: Reuters, FTC press release and The Guardian.