The Shopping Reform and Modernization Act (“Scanner Law”), became effective September 1, 2011. This legislation replaces the former Pricing and Advertising of Consumer Items Act (“Item Pricing Act”). While the Scanner Law retains many provisions of the Item Pricing Act, the most fundamental change is that retailers are required to display the price of items offered for sale in the store at the place where the item is located, but they are no longer required to individually mark the price on the item itself. The Scanner Law permits the price to be displayed by signage, electronic reader, or any other method that clearly conveys the price to a consumer when in the store at the place where the item is located.
This Consumer Alert provides information in response to questions about pricing requirements and scanner overcharge rights under the Scanner Law.
Scanner Error Bill of Rights
The Shopping Reform and Modernization Act, or Scanner Law, requires that most items on store shelves be clearly displayed with the price; by signage, electronic reader, price sticker, or any other method that clearly and reasonably conveys the price to a consumer in the store at the place where the item is located. If an automatic checkout system (scanner) charges you more than the displayed price of an item, and:
- the transaction has been completed, and
- you have a receipt indicating the item purchased and the price charged for it;
Then:
You must notify the seller that you were…
