Dollar Tree Class Action, Shopper Says the Receipt Printed Too Much of Her Credit Card Number and Federal Law Prohibits It

A North Carolina shopper filed a class action lawsuit against Dollar Tree Inc. in early 2026, accusing the discount retail chain of printing more than the legally permitted number of credit card digits on customer receipts — a violation of a federal identity theft protection law that has been in force since 2006. The case currently sits in North Carolina state court after a federal judge found the plaintiff lacked sufficient standing to proceed in federal court and sent it back. No settlement has been reached.

Field	Detail
Case Name	Murphy v. Dollar Tree Inc.
Court	Superior Court of Buncombe County, North Carolina (NC Business Court designation)
Case Number	25CV006137
Date Filed	February 2026
Defendant	Dollar Tree Inc.
Lead Plaintiff	Marilena Murphy
Alleged Violation	Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), 15 U.S.C. § 1681c(g)(1)
Products / Services Affected	In-store credit and debit card purchases at Dollar Tree retail locations
Geographic Scope	Nationwide class
Settlement	None — litigation phase only
Claim Form Available	No
Plaintiffs’ Attorneys	TBD

A Dollar Tree Receipt Printed Too Much. A Law Passed in 2003 Says That’s Illegal.

Dollar Tree operates more than 16,000 stores across the United States, processing millions of credit and debit card transactions every day. Every one of those transactions generates a receipt — and every one of those receipts must comply with federal rules about what card information can appear on paper.

Plaintiff Marilena Murphy filed a class action lawsuit accusing Dollar Tree of violating the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act by printing more than the last five digits of its customers’ credit and debit card numbers on receipts. Murphy alleges her own receipt from a Dollar Tree purchase showed more card digits than the law allows — putting her, and potentially millions of other shoppers, at unnecessary risk.

Dollar Tree initially moved the case to federal court, but a judge ruled the court did not have jurisdiction over the case because the plaintiff did not show a concrete injury required for federal standing. The case was then remanded to North Carolina state court. It now proceeds in the Superior Court of Buncombe County, designated to the North Carolina Business Court.

What Dollar Tree’s Receipts Allegedly Showed — and Why the Law Draws the Line at Five Digits

The specific allegation centers on a federal truncation requirement that has been in effect since December 1, 2006. FACTA law prohibits merchants from printing more than the last five digits of the card number or the expiration date on any electronically printed credit or debit card receipt. The requirement exists because the Federal Trade Commission has stated that credit card numbers on sales receipts are a “golden ticket” for fraudsters and identity thieves.

The complaint alleges Dollar Tree’s point-of-sale systems printed receipts that exceeded that five-digit limit — exposing digits beyond what the law permits. Under FACTA, any person who willfully violates this provision is liable for actual damages or statutory damages ranging from $100 to $1,000 per receipt violation, plus punitive damages and attorney’s fees. With millions of transactions processed across Dollar Tree’s store network each year, a willful violation finding could expose the company to substantial liability.

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Murphy does not allege her credit card was actually stolen or used fraudulently. The lawsuit rests on the statutory violation itself — and the question of whether that technical violation causes enough legal harm to sustain a class action is already shaping how and where this case proceeds.

The Law Murphy Claims Dollar Tree Broke

• Federal truncation requirement under FACTA (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, 15 U.S.C. § 1681c(g)(1)) — Congress passed this law to fight identity theft by requiring merchants to mask all but the last five digits of a card number on printed receipts. Expiration dates must be completely omitted. The rule applies to any electronically printed receipt at the point of sale or transaction — not to handwritten or emailed receipts.
  
• Willful noncompliance provisions (Fair Credit Reporting Act, as amended by FACTA) — Damages for “negligent” noncompliance are limited to actual injuries, such as identity theft. “Willful” noncompliance carries damages of $100 to $1,000 per receipt violation, as well as punitive damages. Murphy’s complaint alleges willful conduct, which triggers the higher damage tier.

Every Dollar Tree Customer Who Paid by Card Could Potentially Be Part of This

You may be affected if:

• You made a credit card or debit card purchase at any Dollar Tree retail location in the United States
• You received a printed receipt at the point of sale showing more than the last five digits of your card number
• The receipt was printed electronically — not handwritten
• You made your purchase at any point during the class period (precise dates TBD pending court filings)

No action is required right now. Save any Dollar Tree receipts you still have from credit or debit card purchases — particularly any that show more than five card digits — as these may matter if a settlement is reached.

Dollar Tree Has Not Responded Publicly

Dollar Tree Inc. has not issued a public statement in response to this lawsuit as of March 25, 2026. AllAboutLawyer.com will update this article when a company response becomes available.

Dollar Tree may argue, as retailers have done in similar FACTA cases, that any excess digit printing resulted from a system configuration issue rather than intentional conduct — which would push the case toward the lower negligence standard rather than willful violation. The company may also challenge whether Murphy’s claims clear the standing threshold in state court, as the federal court already found the federal standard was not met.

What Comes Next in This Case

• Dollar Tree files its response. The company will answer the complaint or move to dismiss in North Carolina state court. Expect arguments over whether the alleged violation constitutes actionable harm under state law.
• Standing fight continues. The federal court already dismissed for lack of concrete injury. Dollar Tree will likely press a similar argument in state court — and the outcome of that argument will determine whether this case moves forward at all.
• Discovery begins if the case survives. Plaintiffs would seek Dollar Tree’s point-of-sale system records, receipt configuration data, and internal communications about FACTA compliance across all store locations.
• Class certification motion. Murphy’s attorneys must persuade the court to formally certify the case as a class action on behalf of all similarly situated customers — a contested and critical stage.
• Settlement or trial. Large retailers facing FACTA class actions have historically negotiated settlements when the standing question resolves in plaintiffs’ favor. This case is too early in its lifecycle to project that outcome. This page will be updated as the case develops.

Important Case Dates

Milestone	Date
Lawsuit Filed	February 2026
Federal Court Remand to State Court	February–March 2026
Defendant Answer Due	TBD
Discovery Period	TBD
Class Certification Hearing	TBD
Trial Date (if set)	TBD
Settlement (if reached)	TBD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Dollar Tree receipt lawsuit real?

 Yes. Murphy v. Dollar Tree Inc., Case No. 25CV006137, is an active class action filed in the Superior Court of Buncombe County, North Carolina and designated to the North Carolina Business Court. Law360 reported the filing on February 20, 2026. No settlement has been reached.

Can I file a claim against Dollar Tree right now?

 No. The lawsuit has not been certified as a class action, and no settlement fund or claim process exists. If the case is certified and a settlement is later reached, class members will receive notice with instructions for participating.

Do I need a lawyer to join this lawsuit?

 No. If the case certifies and a settlement is reached, you would receive notice and could file a claim without hiring your own attorney. If you believe you have a Dollar Tree receipt showing more than five card digits, you may also consult a consumer protection attorney independently.

What happens if the case settles?

 A federal judge — or in this instance, a North Carolina state court judge — must approve any settlement. Class members would then receive notice explaining their options: file a claim for compensation, opt out and preserve the right to sue separately, or object to the settlement terms.

Will I get notified if there is a settlement?

 Likely yes, if Dollar Tree’s records identify you as a customer who received a non-compliant receipt. You can improve your chances of receiving notice by retaining any Dollar Tree receipts from credit or debit card purchases that show more than five card digits.

How does FACTA protect credit card users at checkout?

 FACTA prohibits any person who accepts credit cards or debit cards for business transactions from printing more than the last five digits of the card number or the expiration date on any receipt provided to the cardholder at the point of sale. The rule applies to electronically printed receipts only — not handwritten ones. A compliant receipt looks like: ***********12345, with no expiration date shown at all.

Why did the case get kicked out of federal court and sent back to state court? 

Multiple federal appeals courts have held that simply receiving a receipt with too many card digits — without any actual identity theft or fraud — does not constitute a “concrete injury” sufficient for federal court standing. A federal judge ruled the plaintiff did not show the concrete injury required for federal standing and remanded the case to North Carolina state court, where the standing standard differs. State courts have more flexibility in recognizing statutory violations as actionable harm.

What dollar amount could class members receive if the case settles? 

FACTA sets statutory damages at $100 to $1,000 per willful violation — meaning per non-compliant receipt. In practice, FACTA class action settlements have varied widely. Individual payouts depend on the total number of class members, the settlement amount negotiated, and court-approved fees. No amount is confirmed or predictable at this stage.

Sources & References

Last Updated: March 25, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.