East County News Service
February 18, 2015 (San Diego) – Target Corp. has agreed to pay $4 million to settle a complaint of overcharging consumers filed by the San Diego City Attorney, the Marin County District Attorney and other law enforcement agencies in additional counties.
Target was accused of overcharging customers by charging higher prices at cash register scanners than the prices posted in store aisles. The company was also accused of misrepresenting weights on its packaged foods.
Target operates 19 stores in San Diego County. Investigations by County Weights and Measures departments in six counties found hundreds of violations in pricing that led to overcharges.
San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith calls the settlement “a big win for consumer protection.”
Target admits no wrongdoing in the settlement, but will pay over $3.3 million in penalties and reimburse investigating agencies $388,618, as well as paying $200,000 in restitution to consumers. The retailer will also implement new procedures to assure price accuracy.
Under the settlement, in which Target admitted no wrongdoing, the company will pay more than $3.3 million in penalties, reimburse the investigating agencies $388,618 in costs and pay $200,000 in restitution to consumers. Additionally, Target agreed to implement new compliance procedures to help ensure price accuracy.
Under the terms of the latest settlement, Target agreed to implement additional price accuracy procedures in its California stores, including weekly price audits. Target will designate personnel to walk the entire store weekly to make sure that expired sales tags are removed from shelves.
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