Fraud Tip of the Day - March 3

Checkout Counter Overcharges

No one likes being charged more for an item than the price it's listed at. Who doesn't feel a flash of anger upon discovering they paid too much for a sale item? It ticks me right off and I usually return to the store as soon as I can to get my .10 back. Sometimes it's more and sometimes it's less. I often think about how it adds up over time. Those few cents gradually turn into an avalanche of my money that goes straight into a retailer's till. Do you know your rights and what you can do to reclaim your money?

Michigan Item Pricing Law

Michigan has enacted a law designed to protect consumers at the checkout counter. Michigan's law requires products the carry legible prices. There are a few exceptions to this law but the vast majority of items on store shelves must have a price attached to them that people can read. With readable prices on all products, customers can easily compare prices. Customers can also watch the cashier scan their items and check for the point of sales system's accuracy. If you want you can wait until you get home. Having the prices on the items gives consumers a lot of flexibility.

Michigan Consumer Rights

• Under the law, retailers can leave pricing off 25 products as long as the price is posted nearby.
• It's also against the law to charge more for a product than what it's priced at.
• You're also protected against being overcharged by automated checkout systems. If you can prove you were overcharged you can sue for $250. If you're worried about hiring a lawyer, don't worry. You can sue for an additional $200 to cover lawyer fees. Some stores will let you collect a penalty for being overharged. However, that could mean giving up your right to sue the store. You'll have to decide for yourself if it's worth it to go to the trouble of taking the store to court or not.

If all of the following are true, you can collect a penalty for being overcharged:

• The item is required to have a price on it.
• You were charged more by the store's electronic checkout than the price shown on the item.
• You must have received a receipt which identifies the item and lists the higher, incorrect price.
• You have 14 days after you were overcharged to report it and show evidence to support your claim.

If those four criteria are met, you may be offered a "penalty" in the form of cash. Remember, collecting the penalty means giving up the right to sue the store.

How a "Penalty" is Calculated:

• a) The amount originally overcharged.
• b) The overcharge x 10 ($1 minimum, $5 maximum)
• c) Original Overcharge + (Original Overcharge x 10)

This "penalty" collection rule only applies to Michigan. If you're overcharged in another state, different rules may apply. Contact your state's Attorney General for details.

Consumer Fraud

Use our consumer fraud information to steer clear of consumer-related scams and ripoffs.