Walmart to pay up millions for overcharging customers

Walmart will pay $5.6 million to customers as part of a legal settlement over claims that it overcharged consumers at the register.

The case

The retail giant, which runs more than 10,000 stores worldwide, is accused of selling items at a higher price including produce, baked goods and prepared foods that weighed less than what was stated on their labels, per the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office in California. A civil complaint filed by four California counties also alleged the company charged higher prices than those advertised or posted in stores.

Consumer protection laws

Prosecutors say Walmart violated California’s False Advertising and Unfair Competition Laws. “When someone brings an item to the register to be scanned, the price must be right,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. “They expect it. California expects it. My office expects it – and we will apply the law to make sure of it.”

Previous lawsuits 

This isn’t the first time Walmart has faced similar accusations. In 2012, the company agreed to pay $2.1 million after violating a 2008 court judgment. The order was related to overcharging customers, according to the California Department of Justice.

Consumers impacted

In 2012 while she was serving as the Attorney General of California, Kamala Harris explained the terms of the previous settlement: “Consumers who were overcharged at the cash register should have immediately received $3 off the lowest advertised price of the item. If the price was less than $3, the item was to be given to the consumer for free,” the former vice president said. 

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