Target to pay $1.7 million for overcharging customers at registers

Among the retail victims of the hacking attack named Friday were Walmart, Target, Sears and Bloomingdale’s, according to an independent security consultant, Dancho Danchev. Among the retail victims of the hacking attack named Friday were Walmart, Target, Sears and Bloomingdale’s, according to an independent security consultant, Dancho Danchev. Photo: Paul Sakuma, Associated Press Photo: Paul Sakuma, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Target to pay $1.7 million for overcharging customers at registers 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Target stores has agreed to pay a $1.7 million civil penalty for overcharging California customers through electronic cash register scanners that rang up too-high prices, the Sonoma County district attorney's office said today.

The stores, without admitting guilt, also agreed to improve their pricing procedures for the next four years.

The case arose after weights and measures inspectors in Sonoma, Contra Costa, Marin, Santa Cruz and Fresno counties found "numerous occasions where the price charged at the cash register was not the lowest posted price," according to a statement from the Sonoma County district attorney's office.

"Customers should not have to worry about being charged the correct price," said District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua. "We believe the settlement sends a message."