Walgreens will pay $500,000 to settle allegations that the pharmacy chain repeatedly charged Vermont shoppers more at the register than the prices advertised on store shelves, Attorney General Charity Clark announced.
The settlement follows a multi-year investigation that uncovered 416 pricing overcharges between 2018 and 2024 at Walgreens locations and former Rite Aid stores acquired by Walgreens in 2018. Inspectors from the state Agency of Agriculture’s Weights and Measures Program found discrepancies ranging from as little as four cents to more than $23, despite warning the company multiple times to correct errors.
“Deceptive advertising harms consumers and the marketplace, and it will not be tolerated,” Clark said. “This settlement holds Walgreens accountable and requires them to improve their practices, while supporting affordable health services for Vermonters.”
Under the agreement, $25,000 of the settlement will go to the Community Health Center of Burlington. Walgreens, which operates 22 stores across the state, must also maintain strict pricing compliance procedures implemented in 2022 and notify the Attorney General’s Office of any policy changes for the next three years. The company is further required to correct and report overcharge rates exceeding two percent of sampled products at any location.
During routine inspections, state officials checked 50 to 100 items per store and compared shelf prices to register totals. Any higher register price is considered an overcharge under Vermont law. The median overcharge found was $1.92 per item.
The Attorney General’s Office credited the Weights and Measures Program for its investigation, which ultimately led to the enforcement action.
The settlement, filed with the court, is available on the Attorney General’s website.
