Consumers At Risk of Being Overcharged for Items, County Says

Consumers are two times more likely to be overcharged than undercharged when businesses make pricing errors, making it important for people to double-check their shopping receipts, San Diego County officials announced Thursday.

A quarter of more than 1,100 businesses inspected during the last seven months had pricing errors, according to a statement from Robert Atkins, director of the county Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM).

Two Poway businesses—O'Reilly Auto Parts on Poway Road and PW Mart on Pomerado Road—were fined for pricing errors between Nov. 2008 and Nov. 2010. A list of fines levied through March 1 is expected to be released Thursday or Friday.

The AWM inspects thousands of businesses and price-scanning machines each year. During the last seven months, inspectors from the Scanner Awareness Program checked the scanned prices of more than 18,000 items at more than 1,100 businesses and found there were $3.38 in overcharges for every $1 in undercharges, Atkins said.

Consumers are encouraged to talk to store managers or employees before leaving the store if they believe there has been a pricing error. People may also file a complaint by calling 888-TRUE-SCAN (888-878-3722).

Businesses fined between Nov. 2008 and Nov. 2010 for pricing errors:

Source: County of San Diego Scanner Awareness Program