Holiday shoppers should always check their receipts





This holiday season the Los Angeles Weights and Measures officials remind shoppers to check their store receipts for overcharges.

Shoppers are legally entitled to pay only a store’s lowest advertised or posted price for any item. But inspections by agency officials have revealed that overcharge errors do occur and often involve items with special promotional offers, sales and markdowns for which price information hasn’t been updated in the scanner system.

Holiday shopping presents many opportunities for such errors.

Overcharges can be easily missed. Consumers are encouraged to monitor prices charged at the checkout register and to report errors to the manager or customer service desk before leaving the store.

Shoppers in L.A. County who are overcharged should contact the Los Angeles County Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures at (800) 655-2900 or may submit a complaint by logging on to: acwm.co.la.ca.us/scripts/ scanform.cfm

All complaints will be investigated the same day received or the next business day.

Callers should be prepared to provide the following information: A complete description of the item or items; the shelf price or advertised price; the price scanned at the checkout register; and the date the overcharge occurred.

A Buyer Beware Program was established in February 2002 after a sampling of price accuracy at stores throughout Los Angeles County revealed that overcharges occurred at two-thirds of the locations.

The program requires all stores with automated price look-up systems to register with the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures and provides for routine inspections of stores to monitor price accuracy. Since implementation of the program, price scanner accuracy reportedly has improved.

Established in 1881, the Weights and Measures Department protects consumers and the environment through the early detection of dangerous, invasive insect and plant pests; the enforcement of laws and regulations regarding safe pesticide use; the clearance of weeds, brush and debris from vacant land to reduce fire hazards; the inspection and verification of the accuracy of scales, meters, price scanners; and the enforcement of quantity labeling on packaged goods.