Fast-food chain Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. is being sued by a customer for rounding bills to the nearest five-cent amount.

Plaintiff Adam Overton alleges in his lawsuit that Chipotle, which has more than 1,200 restaurants in the United States, routinely overcharges its customers.

The company in response says the tactic was done merely to save time while serving customers. It also claims bills were adjusted both up and down, resulting in the company not making a profit off the practice. However, it has offered to now only round down.

The allegations in the California-filed lawsuit were substantiated by the Newark Star-Ledger in New Jersey, which examined several customer receipts and noticed consistent overcharging.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Adam Overton v. Chipotle (pdf)

Chipotle Receipts Finally Start Making Sense (by Karin Price Mueller, Newark Star-Ledger)