Marin joins settlement over alleged PetSmart overcharging

Marin County will receive a share of a $1.46 million settlement over alleged consumer violations by PetSmart, the pet supplies chain.

The Marin County District Attorney’s Office and its counterparts in seven other counties sued the company on allegations of overcharging customers, false advertising and unfair competition.

The other plaintiffs included Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Sonoma and Ventura counties. Prosecutors filed the lawsuit in Santa Cruz County.

Marin will receive $165,381.10 in civil penalties and cost reimbursement, said Deputy District Attorney Andres Perez, a consumer protection prosecutor for the county.

PetSmart has no stores in Marin, but it has stores nearby that advertise in Marin and draw consumers from the county, Perez said. The company has stores in Petaluma and San Francisco.

“Therefore, we have an interest in making sure their pricing is accurate to protect our citizens,” Perez said.

The settlement includes court orders barring PetSmart from “engaging in false or misleading advertising and charging an amount greater than the lowest price posted for an item,” prosecutors said in their announcement about the resolution.

“We are committed to prosecuting pricing violations and ensuring that businesses charge customers accurately and in compliance with California law,” said Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez. “Consumers should always watch as items are scanned at the register and check receipts to verify that they are charged the lowest advertised or posted price for items.”

Perez said, “PetSmart management was very responsive and, without admitting liability, will be instituting new price accuracy compliance measures that will benefit California consumers going forward.”

PetSmart did not respond to a request for comment. The company, founded in 1987, has about 1,660 stores in North America.