Ohio Joins FTC, 19 Other States in Lawsuit Accusing Dollar General of Overcharging Shoppers
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio has joined the Federal Trade Commission and 19 other states in suing Dollar General, alleging the retailer repeatedly charged shoppers more at checkout than the prices advertised on shelves and failed to correct the problem despite years of complaints.
The lawsuit, announced Monday, October 26, seeks to stop the alleged practices and recover monetary relief and state penalties. It was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Federal Trade Commission
“The prices on store shelves are what customers should be paying,” Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said in a release. “Dollar General has allowed the overcharges to continue at the expense of the very people who keep its lights on.”
The case marks Ohio’s second lawsuit against the retailer over pricing discrepancies in recent years. The Ohio Attorney General’s Office sued Dollar General in November 2022 after receiving complaints that customers were charged more at registers than the prices displayed on store shelves.
That case resulted in a $1 million settlement in 2023, which included requirements aimed at addressing inaccurate pricing. Ohio officials say the overcharges continued.
The new complaint alleges that Dollar General collected millions of dollars in unlawful overcharges at thousands of stores while failing to put adequate safeguards in place. Authorities contend that company executives knew about the problem through customer complaints, inspections and previous enforcement actions.
According to the complaint, Dollar General received at least 29,265 complaints categorized as “Did Not Honor Marked Price” between January 1, 2023, and March 31, 2026. Those complaints came from all 48 states where the company operated.
The filing also describes undercover purchases made by FTC investigators, including a January 16, 2026, visit to a Cleveland store. Investigators reported that 13 of 58 items rang up at prices different from those displayed on a product label or shelf. Eight were overcharges and five were undercharges, resulting in a net overcharge of $3.25.
Other Ohio examples cited in the complaint include Lake County stores failing half of their pricing audits between January 1 and March 22, 2026. In Columbus, the complaint alleges Dollar General failed more than 45% of pricing inspections between January 1, 2023, and March 2, 2026.
The FTC and participating states allege violations of the FTC Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and state consumer protection laws, including the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act.
They are asking the court for a permanent injunction against future violations, monetary relief and penalties available under state law. The complaint contains allegations; the court will determine whether Dollar General violated the law.
