Consumer advice center warns: Brazen scam could bring in millions a year for supermarkets
Created: 09/15/2022, 04:45 am
Be careful when shopping: there is often a difference between the price tag and the bill.
© Sven Simon/Imago
A consumer center receives information that supermarkets are cheating customers out of money with a certain scam.
It could be a lucrative phenomenon.
Munich - While German consumers are digging deeper into their pockets when paying for various products in view of the energy crisis, the Berlin consumer advice center has published a warning that has it all: Are supermarkets and other retail companies filling their pockets with a perfidious scam?
Recently, there have been increasing indications that there is a difference between the price tag and the statement on the receipt when shopping.
A look at the till receipt showed that more money was ultimately collected for certain products than communicated.
First, the
BusinessInsider
reported about it.
Receipt fraud in supermarkets?
Many consumers throw away notes
However, many customers do not bother to pay at the checkout and check the receipt - which means that supermarkets are allegedly continuously collecting money that they are not actually entitled to.
“In the best case, you check the price directly when scanning the items.
If this is not possible because you are busy packing, the receipt should be checked directly in the store and the problem drawn attention to it," advises the consumer advice center.
Although such observations were made more and more in the Berlin area: Without a doubt, this phenomenon should occur again and again throughout Germany - the only question is how often and whether this is possibly happening on purpose.
If only one in five purchases at the supermarket checkouts in the republic is incorrectly priced in favor of the company, millions of euros in revenue will beckon throughout the year.
However, there are several reasons why the receipt should be checked after shopping.
Supermarkets with a perfidious scam?
Differences between price tag and receipt
The Berlin consumer advice center explains: "Of course it can happen that the price tag on the shelf is changed a little too late, but that shouldn't be the norm." In addition, intentionally incorrect pricing would violate legal requirements and would therefore be treated as an administrative offence.
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Supermarkets, discounters and other trading companies are obliged to display the correct prices and are liable to prosecution if this is not done.
What options do customers have when they are on the trail of a fraudulent receipt?
Contact persons are the regional regulatory authorities or the consumer centers.
(PF)
