May 7, 2009 5:45 pm US/Eastern
Group Claims CVS Routinely Overcharges
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
You might want to check your receipt the next time you shop at
CVS.
A new report claims the pharmacy chain routinely overcharges its customers. That's when an item scans at checkout for a higher price than what's posted in the store.
According to a consumer advocate group, Massachusetts inspectors cited CVS in 2008 almost five times more often than the average food retailer.
The group "
Cure CVS" says their data came from the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations inspection reports from 2008.
The documents showed 711 overcharges at CVS stores in the last year.
The group also sent its own surveyors to 22 CVS branches this year and claims it was overcharged at 20 of them.
CVS RESPONSE
In a statement to WBZ, CVS said it makes every effort to make sure the prices posted in its stores are accurate.
"In the event of a discrepancy between a posted price and the price being scanned being brought to our attention, we always honor the lower price," said spokesman Mike DeAngelis.
"Discrepancies between a price scanned at our register and the price posted on store shelves may occur when sale signs are not removed in a timely manner," he added, noting that "a typical CVS/pharmacy has more than 100,000 items on its shelves."
DeAngelis claimed the consumer group had an underlying reason for their protest.
"This is the latest in a series of misleading attacks by Change to Win against CVS Caremark. This consortium of labor unions began a campaign to disparage our company in 2007 after we refused to waive our employees' right to vote confidentially in union elections."
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