California Wal-Mart customers who
spot any price-scanning errors will get $3 back at the cash register, under a
deal with legal authorities.
The deal, which is part of a
settlement with California’s attorney general
and San Diego’s
district attorney, is a response to customers being overcharged across the
state. In an investigation that began in 2005, departments of weights and
measures in several California
counties found that 164 Wal-Mart stores in 30 counties had made scanning
errors, overcharging customers an extra $8.40 at checkout, on average. Errors
cited in a release included $1 overcharges on Kellogg's Special K cereal in Los Angeles and Santa Clara
counties, and 46-cent overcharges on Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal in Madera, King and Ventura
counties.
Wal-Mart agreed to designate
employees to ensure the accuracy of scanned prices and receive customer
complaints. The company also will pay $1.4 million in restitution, civil
penalties and reimbursement for investigative costs, and $50,000 to the State
Consumer Protection Prosecution Trust Fund.
