A new CMA review shows widespread incorrect pricing in UK grocery stores, leading to customers being overcharged.
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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found that many grocery stores are not displaying prices correctly.
They checked 139 grocery stores in England and Wales and discovered these issues are widespread.
This includes problems like missing prices, prices on products that didn’t match the prices on the shelf, and prices not shown close enough to the products.
Paying more!
Inaccurate and missing price tags mean that customers often pay more at the till than they expected.
This problem was especially seen in independent food stores, which were found to be the biggest culprits in the review.
Around 60% of the errors spotted during this review led to customers being overcharged when they reached the checkout.
The CMA has teamed up with Trading Standards to launch a new poster to help shopkeepers understand their legal duties regarding price display and ensure that shoppers are not misled.
Even though they are reminding retailers, it’s more important than ever to add up as you go in grocery stores and ask if prices don’t match when you’re checking out.
If the shelf says you should pay £4, the till should be £4, and you should be charged more!
Retailers must change the shelf pricing first, before the higher prices at changed on the tills.
This finding is part of a larger effort to ensure pricing honesty and clarity across all stores.
George Lusty, interim executive director for consumer protection and markets at the CMA, expressed his concern about this issue.
“We know how frustrating it can be when you get to the till only to find the price doesn’t match what was advertised. While lots of grocery retailers – particularly supermarkets – are complying with pricing rules, this needs to consistently be the case across all types of stores.
“It’s important that shoppers can make well-informed choices based on accurate information, especially at a time when lots of people are looking to save money. That’s why we are reminding businesses of the importance of complying with consumer law.”
Tracy Goodenough says
I have been charged more than what’s on the shelve I tell them if the wrong price comes up our local shop is terrible at not changeing shelf prices to match the till price