Law for overcharging?

[dck12ga]

Does anyone know how the law for store's who overcharge work? I know that they have to pay you a % of what they overcharged you but I do not know what it is and if there is anything else I should know!

 

[~Kathie]

Does anyone know how the law for store's who overcharge work? I know that they have to pay you a % of what they overcharged you but I do not know what it is and if there is anything else I should know!

Laws governing retail stores are different from state to state. You can most likely find out by calling your Govenor's office or looking on your statel web site.

 

[summerrluvv]

Does anyone know how the law for store's who overcharge work? I know that they have to pay you a % of what they overcharged you but I do not know what it is and if there is anything else I should know!

I used to live in MI years ago and vaguley remember the law. If I remember correctly, they have to refund you the difference of what you paid and what the item cost and 10 times that amount, not more than $5. Or maybe it's they have to refund you the entire amount then the difference times 10. I know it's one or the other. Meijers was the worst with stuff coming up the wrong price so I always received the pricing error award there.

 

[the kabuki]

They have to refund the difference plus an extra 10% of the difference not to exceed $5.00.

Example:
Item advertised at 10.00 scanned at $12.00

Difference $2.00
10 times the difference equals $20.00 but it can't exceed $5.00 so you'd get the $2.00 difference plus $5.00 for a total of $7.00

 

[dck12ga]

Thank you all! I was hoping it was more! On black friday walmart charged me the full price of the gameboy advance instead of the 48$ it was on sail for. so that will be about 30$ difference! I just hope there is no way they can get out of it! Thank you all again!!

 

[bicker]

In Massachusetts, such protections only apply to food purchases. For other instances of overcharging, Massachusetts recommends, "If you notice a pattern of electronic scanning errors in a particular store, talk to the customer service department or the store manager. You also may want to write a letter to the company’s headquarters. The retailer may not realize a problem exists until it’s pointed out. You also may report recurring problems to your state Attorney General’s office, state or local consumer protection office, or your state or local office of weights and measures."

 

[maxiesmom]

Just to clarify, in Michigan in pertains to the marked price on the item, not the scanned sale price. For instance, if it is marked $35 but rings up $40, that is a scan law item. If it is marked $35,is supposed to be on sale for
$25 but rings up $30, that is not a scan law item. However most retailers will honor the law for you. You can find a copy of the law on the BBB website.

 

[Free4Life11]

I've never heard of this. Anytime something has run up incorrectly they've either done a price check or I noticed it on the receipt, went to customer service, and they gave me the difference of what I paid and the actual price.

 

[thelittlemermaid]

I think I got jipped!

Last month DH and I were doing some shopping. While at Toys R Us we bought a box set of Dora the Explorer DVD's for DD. While walking out to the car I was looking at the receipt and noticed that we were charged $34 for it when the sticker said $29.

I went back in and got the difference back, but that is it. I take it if you don't know about this law at the time, the stores won't uphold the law.

 

[KathyTX]

Like Kathie pointed out earlier, the pricing laws vary from state to state.

Michigan is probably the biggest stickler for the scanning errors. Most other states do not mandate any specific financial award to the consumer when errors are found, and a simple refund of the difference is what you'll usually get.

 

[bicker]

When I went looking for the law in Massachusetts, I found a lot of information about Michigan's law. It made me thing that Michigan was the only state to apply this "bonus" concept. Does anyone know of any other states that codified a bonus when there is a scan error at the register (for something other than food)?

 

[MrsPete]

Does anyone know how the law for store's who overcharge work? I know that they have to pay you a % of what they overcharged you but I do not know what it is and if there is anything else I should know!

Obviously, they have to do a refund to give you the right price, but I don't think there's a LAW about a penalty on top of that. I think if stores give you a % over that, it's just store policy -- kind of a good will thing.

Now, if they're doing it repeatedly so that you suspect it's not just a mistake, then I'd stop shopping there.

 

[Lewisc]

I think most of the you get the item free or % of the overcharge is store policy and not a law.

 

[maxiesmom]

I know that in Michigan you have to ask for the scan law to get the penalty dollars. The store does not have to offer it to you. Kind of strange, isn't it?

 

[summerrluvv]

Obviously, they have to do a refund to give you the right price, but I don't think there's a LAW about a penalty on top of that. I think if stores give you a % over that, it's just store policy -- kind of a good will thing.

Now, if they're doing it repeatedly so that you suspect it's not just a mistake, then I'd stop shopping there.

Yup, there sure is a law in MI (as posted above).

 

[dck12ga]

OK, I did go back to Walmart today and they were saying "it was last years model that was on sale"?? I am not sure what that was all about, so i kind of got scared and when they called the manager(oops, they also did not have a sales add either) I was just happy that they gave me the difference, i forgot to ask about the law, and I was happy just to get the difference back!!!! So I am not sure what the law is, and at this point, I am not worried about it! thank you everyone who posted! Have a great day!!