COLUMBUS, Ohio (ADAMS) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says Dollar General stores are continuing to charge higher-than-advertised prices.
Yost returned to Butler County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday to request a temporary restraining order against the Tennessee-based retailer.
Yost initially filed a lawsuit against the company in November of last year, claiming they were in violation of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act by ringing up items for higher prices than the ones listed on shelves. Auditor reports in Franklin County show that the price discrepancies continued even after the suit was filed.
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Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office put out the following:
With deceptive pricing continuing at Dollar General stores, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost returned to court today to ask a Butler County Common Pleas judge to immediately force the Tennessee-based retailer to stop advertising one price on its store shelves and charging another price – typically higher – at its registers.
In his request for a temporary restraining order against the discount retailer, Yost cited ongoing violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act. He also requested a hearing regarding a preliminary injunction that would require Dollar General to abide by Ohio consumer laws as this case progresses.
“There’s a mountain of evidence showing that Dollar General simply doesn’t care to fix the issue – and that’s despite numerous consumer complaints, failed auditor inspections and our lawsuit,” Yost said. “The bait-and-switch price games stop now.”
Multiple county auditors, as part of their regular duties, have inspected Dollar General stores and found that many of the product prices displayed did not match the prices charged. Even after Yost sued the company on Nov. 1, 2022, auditor reports show, some of the same stores continued to fail inspections, meaning they are still charging more than the prices advertised.
Notably, Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano required certain Dollar General stores to apply stickers to their registers warning consumers that they may be charged incorrectly.
In the months since the lawsuit was filed, the Attorney General’s Office has received 116 complaints regarding Dollar General’s shelf-pricing issues.
Ohioans who suspect unfair business practices should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515.