Active Investigation · Deceptive Pricing / Consumer Protection · Related Federal Case No. 3:26-cv-01693 (M.D. Tenn.)

Dollar General Price Overcharge Investigation

One price on the shelf. A higher price at the register. Georgia shoppers left out of the government’s lawsuit.

Hall & Lampros, LLP is investigating claims on behalf of Georgia shoppers who were charged more at the Dollar General register than the price Dollar General advertised on its shelves, signs, flyers, website, or app. On October 26, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission and 20 states sued Dollar General, alleging that the company “routinely charged customers more at the register than the prices displayed on shelves, price tags, and advertisements” for years, in stores across the country, according to the complaint. Georgia is not one of the states in that lawsuit. If you were overcharged at a Georgia Dollar General, contact us for a free, confidential review.

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A federal and multistate lawsuit over Dollar General’s register prices — and what it means for Georgia shoppers

Case
Federal Trade Commission, et al. v. Dollar General Corporation
Case Number
3:26-cv-01693
Court
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
Plaintiff(s)
Federal Trade Commission; the States of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin; the People of the State of California (by Los Angeles County Counsel); the People of the State of Michigan; and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. Georgia is not a plaintiff.
Defendant(s)
Dollar General Corporation (also d/b/a Dollar General)
Complaint Filed
October 26th, 2026
Amended Complaint (if applicable)
N/A
Representing
Hall & Lampros, LLP is not counsel in the FTC/multistate action. The firm is independently investigating potential claims on behalf of Georgia consumers.

In brief: Federal Trade Commission, et al. v. Dollar General Corporation is a lawsuit filed by the FTC and 20 states and state agencies alleging that Dollar General advertised one price and charged consumers a higher price at checkout. Hall & Lampros, LLP is investigating whether Georgia shoppers — who are not covered by any of the state plaintiffs — have claims of their own.

Dollar General describes itself as “America’s neighborhood general store.” According to the complaint, it operates more than 20,000 stores, roughly 75% of the U.S. population lives within five miles of one, and about 80% of its stores are in towns of 20,000 people or fewer (Compl. ¶¶ 3–4). Households earning $35,000 or less account for 60% of its revenue, and it sells around 2,000 items for $1 or less (Compl. ¶ 5).

The complaint alleges that Dollar General advertises prices through weekly circulars, shelf tags, product labels, in-store sale and clearance signs, and its website and mobile app — and then, “on numerous occasions,” charges more at the register (Compl. ¶¶ 46–58). It alleges that Dollar General received 29,265 complaints categorized as “Did Not Honor Marked Price” from January 2023 through March 2026, from all 48 states in which it operates (Compl. ¶¶ 9, 54); that it has failed thousands of government pricing inspections; and that, since 2019, it has paid more than $6 million to resolve seven state pricing actions and has faced eight pricing-accuracy class actions since 2022 (Compl. ¶¶ 11, 82–84).

The complaint specifically cites Georgia shoppers, including one charged $6 for an $8 item despite a sign saying all Christmas items were 70% off — whose manager allegedly “refused to adjust the price, citing corporate policy” (Compl. ¶ 55(G)) — and another whose “$5 off” Dollar General app coupon was not honored at the register (Compl. ¶ 58(C)).

Because Georgia is not a plaintiff in the government action, that case does not represent Georgia shoppers individually. Hall & Lampros is evaluating potential claims under Georgia law for consumers who paid more than the advertised price. These are allegations; Dollar General has not been found liable, and the case has not been decided.

What the Complaint Alleges

The account set out in the government’s filing

The allegations below are drawn from the complaint filed by the FTC and 20 states on October 26, 2026. They have not been proven in court.

1

Advertising one price, charging another

According to the complaint, Dollar General advertises prices in weekly circulars, on shelf tags and product labels, on in-store sale and clearance signs, and on its website and app, but on numerous occasions charges more at the register — including on “buy one, get one” deals, multi-buy offers, clearance discounts, and app coupons (Compl. ¶¶ 46–58).

2

Georgia shoppers among those affected

The complaint cites a January 2026 Georgia complaint about a 70%-off Christmas sign that was not honored, with the manager allegedly “citing corporate policy,” and an August 2025 Georgia complaint about a “$5 off” app coupon that was refused at the register (Compl. ¶¶ 55(G), 58(C)).

3

Every undercover purchase was overcharged

Between January and April 2026, FTC investigators made undercover purchases at Dollar General stores in four states. The complaint alleges that every single purchase resulted in overcharges on multiple items, with error rates as high as 22.4% of the items in one cart (Compl. ¶ 53).

4

Overcharges that are hard to catch

The complaint alleges that prices “flash quickly on the screen” at checkout, that some screens do not clearly show customers each item’s price, that many shoppers do not discover the overcharge until they get home — or ever — and that employees often refuse to correct errors when customers do catch them (Compl. ¶¶ 60–62).

5

Failed pricing inspections nationwide

The complaint describes state and local pricing inspections that Dollar General allegedly failed at high rates, including more than 39% of inspections in Kansas, more than 45% in Utah, 92 of 147 in Missouri, and 53% in New Mexico in early 2026 (Compl. ¶¶ 64–79).

6

Dollar General allegedly knew and did not fix it

The complaint alleges that Dollar General’s own audits and weekly internal reports show stores failing to update shelf labels, that price changes are usually increases (so a stale shelf tag usually means an overcharge), and that the company has not corrected the problem despite inspections, settlements, and tens of thousands of complaints (Compl. ¶¶ 63, 88–103).

The Legal Claims

Federal and state consumer protection claims asserted by the government

The complaint asserts 29 counts: two by the FTC under federal law and the remainder by the plaintiff states under their own consumer protection and weights-and-measures laws. Georgia law is not among them. Any claims Hall & Lampros pursues for Georgia shoppers would be brought separately under Georgia law.

I

Count I — Misrepresentations to Consumers Regarding Product Prices

Alleges that Dollar General represents that consumers will be charged the advertised price — in circulars, on its website and app, on products, on signs, and on shelves — when in numerous instances it charges more, a deceptive act or practice.

Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(a)

II

Count II — False Statements to Obtain Customer Financial Information

Alleges that Dollar General used false price representations to obtain, or cause the disclosure of, customers’ credit card, debit card, and bank account information at checkout (Compl. ¶¶ 59, 114–115).

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act § 521, 15 U.S.C. § 6821

III–XXVII

Counts III–XXVII — State Consumer Protection and Deceptive Trade Practices Laws

Alleges that the same false pricing practices violate the consumer protection, deceptive trade practices, and false advertising laws of each plaintiff state.

E.g., Fla. Stat. § 501.201 et seq. (FDUTPA); Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-18-101 et seq.; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75-1.1; Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200, 17500; Mich. Comp. Laws § 445.311 et seq.

XXVIII–XXIX

Counts XXVIII–XXIX — Wisconsin Weights and Measures Law

Alleges that items scanned at the register for more than the posted price during 2026 state inspections, and missing refund signage, violated Wisconsin’s pricing and weights-and-measures requirements.

Wis. Stat. §§ 98.26(1)(c), 98.08(2)

Potential Recovery

What You May Be Able to Recover

Depending on the facts and the law that applies, Georgia shoppers who were overcharged may be able to seek the remedies below. No outcome can be guaranteed, and every claim depends on its own facts.

1

Refund of Overcharges

The difference between the advertised price and the price you were actually charged at the register.

2

Additional Damages

Georgia consumer protection law can allow additional damages where a business’s deceptive practices were intentional.

3

Changes to Dollar General’s Practices

Court orders requiring accurate pricing and honoring the lowest posted price in Georgia stores.

4

Attorneys’ Fees & Costs

Georgia law may allow recovery of attorneys’ fees from the business in successful consumer claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions from Georgia shoppers about the Dollar General pricing investigation.

What is this investigation about? ▾

The FTC and 20 states allege that Dollar General charged customers more at the register than the prices it advertised on shelves, signs, flyers, its website, and its app. Hall & Lampros is investigating whether Georgia shoppers who were overcharged have claims under Georgia law.

Who may qualify? ▾

You may qualify if you shopped at a Dollar General store in Georgia and were charged more than the advertised price on a shelf tag, product sticker, sale or clearance sign, weekly flyer, newspaper ad, or the Dollar General website or app; if a BOGO deal, multi-buy offer, percentage-off sale, or digital coupon didn’t come off at checkout; or if you asked for the advertised price and were refused.

Isn’t the government already handling this? ▾

The FTC and 20 states filed suit, but Georgia is not one of them. Government enforcement actions are brought on behalf of the public and the plaintiff states — they do not represent you as an individual Georgia shopper, and there is no guarantee any money from that case will reach Georgia consumers.

My overcharge was only a dollar or two. Is it worth it? ▾

The complaint alleges that small overcharges, repeated across millions of purchases, add up — and fall hardest on families who budget every dollar (Compl. ¶ 13). Consumer protection laws exist so that small, widespread overcharges can be challenged.

I don’t have my receipts. Can I still contact you? ▾

Yes. Debit and credit card statements, Dollar General app purchase history, and photos of shelf tags or signs can help establish what you bought and when. Contact us even if your documentation is incomplete.

What should I do now? ▾

Gather any receipts, card or bank statements, app history, and photos you have. Going forward, photograph the price tag or sign before you buy and keep your receipt. Then call (404) 876-8100 or complete the form below.

Does it cost anything, and am I filing a lawsuit by contacting you? ▾

Case reviews are free and confidential. Contacting us lets an attorney review your situation and explain your options; nothing is filed without your agreement.

Is there a deadline? ▾

Yes. Georgia consumer claims are subject to time limits that can be short. Contact us promptly so your rights are protected.

About the Firm

Hall & Lampros, LLP

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Attorneys on This Case
CBH

Christopher B. Hall

Georgia Bar No. 318380

A recognized civil-rights and employment litigator, Attorney Hall represents employees in discrimination, harassment, and retaliation cases across Georgia and the Southeast. chall@hallandlampros.com