For North Carolina families already keeping a close eye on every dollar they spend, discovering that the price at the register might not match the one advertised on the shelf is bound to cause frustration. A new investigation has found that 62% of the North Carolina Circle K stores inspected for price accuracy between 2023 and 2025 failed their checks, with some locations repeatedly charging customers more than advertised. For shoppers simply stopping for gas, snacks or everyday essentials, those extra dollars and cents can quickly add up.
According to an investigation conducted by The Guardian, the problem was uncovered through North Carolina Department of Agriculture inspection records covering 2023 through 2025. Of the Circle K stores inspected for price accuracy during that period, 62% failed at least one inspection, with officials finding instances where customers were charged more at the register or pump than the price they had been shown.
Worryingly, one particularly striking example came from a Circle K in Hillsborough, where The Guardian found that gas advertised at $3.459 per gallon was actually being charged at $3.799 at the pump. Although an inspector had the price corrected, follow-up visits reportedly uncovered further overcharges of 14 cents and 24 cents per gallon. Even after the store was hit with a $500 penalty, another consumer complaint led to yet another inspection, which found customers being overcharged by 14 cents per gallon.
The problems weren’t limited to a single location, either. In Kernersville, one Circle K reportedly failed five inspections in a row, while more recent state records show pricing issues have continued into 2026. In July, North Carolina officials revealed that a Circle K in Indian Trail had failed three inspections this year, with its first check finding customers were overcharged on 11 of the 50 items examined.
The findings have raised broader concerns about how easily small pricing discrepancies can hit shoppers without them noticing. A few cents on a snack or gallon of gas might not seem like much on its own, but repeated overcharges can quickly add up, particularly for families already watching their household budgets. The investigation also serves as a useful reminder for North Carolina shoppers to check their receipts and make sure the price they pay matches the one they were promised.
North Carolina Shoppers Say Circle K Pricing Problems Are Nothing New
North Carolina shoppers were quick to share their own experiences with Circle K, with several claiming they had encountered similar pricing problems. One person recalled, “Yep they tried to overcharge me $10, said the promotion ‘didnt work in the cash register’. I haven’t been back.” Another wasn’t surprised by the investigation, writing, “I’m not shocked. I always tell them that the sign or tag is something different when I’m in a Circle K. Their coolers are also always broken so their drinks are warm.”
For some shoppers, the findings appeared to change how they viewed the chain’s prices altogether. “I figured things were always overpriced in those stores because we had to pay for the convenience of it being a random gas station. Didn’t know we were just being swindled,” one person admitted. Another explained why they always pay close attention at the register: “I wish I could be this casual with my money. I watch like a hawk – not because I’m expecting to be cheated, but because people and computers make mistakes.”
Others called for greater scrutiny of the stores. “Anyone tell r/jeffjackson ? I get this crap all the time. Circle K has gotten to the point they have even stopped listing prices on the shelf. Crap like this needs to go,” one commenter claimed. Another was even more forceful, writing, “That….. Is not allowed in this state…. Weights and measures needs to kick down their doors and do an audit. (Believe they do tag audits as well but I’m not sure)”
Being able to trust the price on the shelf is something shoppers should be able to take for granted. Families across North Carolina rely on places like Circle K for everything from filling up their cars to grabbing food and everyday essentials, and they deserve to know that the price they see is the price they’ll actually pay. With household budgets already stretched for many communities, repeated overcharges can quickly add up, making it all the more important for stores to get something as basic as accurate pricing right.
