Are Quick-Service Restaurants Ripping Customers Off?

When consumers see a price tag, they expect to pay that price—or at least one would think it’d be that simple. According to QSR , customers are taking legal action against restaurants such as Taco Bell and McDonald’s for deceiving them by charging more than advertisements claim.

First, Domino’s made headlines for having an ADA-noncompliant website for those who are vision-impaired... and now restaurants are lying about their menu prices. What’s going on? In the various suits being filed, plaintiffs allege that defendant restaurants are charging them different prices than what’s being advertised. Interestingly, courts seem to be siding with the quick-service restaurants.

“Customers cannot be deceived when they receive the food they ordered and can compare prices for themselves prior to purchase,” the article states.

In the recent case Dabir v. McDonald’s Corp. , the plaintiff alleged that he saw an ad in his local McDonald’s claiming the Sausage McMuffin was on its Value Menu. After buying two Sausage McMuffin sandwiches, he realized he had paid $1.89 for each. Last month, Taco Bell faced a suit filed by a New Jersey couple, who asserted the restaurant’s Craving Boxes were advertised deceptively. Rather than paying $10 for each box, the couple paid over $12 per box.

Based on previous court decisions made that dealt with “meal-deal” court cases , plaintiffs will have a difficult time pleading they didn’t know the price of their food prior to purchasing.