By . Associated Press . and MailOnline Reporter . Luxury department store Barneys has agreed to pay $525,000 to resolve allegations that minorities were singled out as suspected shoplifters at its flagship store. Barneys shoppers and ex-employees last year complained that detectives followed minority customers around — even after staffers identified them as frequent patrons — and disproportionately investigated their credit-card use. State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said some salespeople subsequently avoided serving African American and Hispanic shoppers to avoid getting calls from store investigators. Scroll down for video . Review: Barneys New York Chief Executive Mark Lee, standing at the podium beside Reverend Al Sharpton (second from right) in October 2013 following complaints the luxury department store was racially profiling customers . Besides the $525,000 in fines and expenses, Barneys will hire an 'anti-profiling consultant' for two years, update its policy and record-keeping on detaining customers suspected of theft, and improve training of security and sales personnel. 'This agreement will correct a number of wrongs, both by fixing past policies and by monitoring the actions of Barneys and its employees to make sure that past mistakes are not repeated,' Schneiderman said in announcing the settlement on Monday. Barneys CEO Mark Lee said in a statement that the company was pleased with the settlement, first reported by the Daily News. 'Barneys New York has prided itself on providing an unparalleled customer experience to every person that comes into contact with our brand — open and welcoming to one and all,' Lee's statement said, adding that the store doesn't tolerate discrimination. Taking legal action: Trayon Christian (left) and Kayla Phillips (right) claim they were harassed by police at Barneys in New York after buying expensive items . Community outrage: Reverend Conrad Tillard speaks in front of a Barneys luxury department store in New York on October 30, 2013, as demonstrators protest the unfair security policies at Barneys and Macy's . Schneiderman's investigation came after two Barney's shoppers, both of whom are black, said last year they were detained by police after making expensive purchases at the Madison Avenue luxury emporium. In February, 21-year-old nursing student Kayla Phillips said she was surrounded by four plainclothes . cops who accused her of credit card fraud after she bought a $2,500 . orange suede Celine bag. In April, 19-year-old student Trayon Christian said he was followed by NYPD plainclothes cops outside the store and accused of fraud after he bought a $349 Ferragamo belt. No charges were filed in both cases, but the customers filed lawsuits against the store and the NYPD. The suits are pending. Civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton met with Lee to discuss the issue, and the furor spurred an online petition asking rapper Jay-Z, who was collaborating with the luxury retailer for a holiday collection, to disassociate from it. He ultimately decided to move forward with the project, which raised money for his charitable foundation, under the condition that he helped lead the store's review of its policies. Reform: Barneys says it has trained security staff following allegations minorities were harassed at their New York flagship store (pictured) Sharpton said in a statement that Barneys' agreement with the attorney general was a 'move in the right direction towards fairness and equal respect for all consumers, but we must monitor and continue to be vigilant.' Meanwhile, minority shoppers — including actor Rob Brown — also made similar complaints last year against other New York stores including Macy's, which had paid a $600,000 fine and promised changes in 2005 after the then-attorney general made similar claims. Macy's and the 'Treme' actor reached a settlement in principle last month in his federal civil rights suit over the matter, both sides said, declining to detail the terms. In December, Barney's, Macy's and several other major retailers agreed to create and publicize a customer bill of rights. Sharpton's National Action Network plans to send people into stores to spot-check compliance, he said Monday.
Review found detectives followed minority customers around NYC store and disproportionately investigated their credit card use .
In addition to payout, Barneys will hire anti-profiling consultant and improve staff training .
Last year, African American shoppers Kayla Phillips and Trayon Christian claimed they were harassed following expensive purchases .
By . Associated Press . and MailOnline Reporter . Luxury department store Barneys has agreed to pay $525,000 to resolve allegations that minorities were singled out as suspected shoplifters at its flagship store. Barneys shoppers and ex-employees last year complained that detectives followed minority customers around — even after staffers identified them as frequent patrons — and disproportionately investigated their credit-card use. State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said some salespeople subsequently avoided serving African American and Hispanic shoppers to avoid getting calls from store investigators. Scroll down for video . Review: Barneys New York Chief Executive Mark Lee, standing at the podium beside Reverend Al Sharpton (second from right) in October 2013 following complaints the luxury department store was racially profiling customers . Besides the $525,000 in fines and expenses, Barneys will hire an 'anti-profiling consultant' for two years, update its policy and record-keeping on detaining customers suspected of theft, and improve training of security and sales personnel. 'This agreement will correct a number of wrongs, both by fixing past policies and by monitoring the actions of Barneys and its employees to make sure that past mistakes are not repeated,' Schneiderman said in announcing the settlement on Monday. Barneys CEO Mark Lee said in a statement that the company was pleased with the settlement, first reported by the Daily News. 'Barneys New York has prided itself on providing an unparalleled customer experience to every person that comes into contact with our brand — open and welcoming to one and all,' Lee's statement said, adding that the store doesn't tolerate discrimination. Taking legal action: Trayon Christian (left) and Kayla Phillips (right) claim they were harassed by police at Barneys in New York after buying expensive items . Community outrage: Reverend Conrad Tillard speaks in front of a Barneys luxury department store in New York on October 30, 2013, as demonstrators protest the unfair security policies at Barneys and Macy's . Schneiderman's investigation came after two Barney's shoppers, both of whom are black, said last year they were detained by police after making expensive purchases at the Madison Avenue luxury emporium. In February, 21-year-old nursing student Kayla Phillips said she was surrounded by four plainclothes . cops who accused her of credit card fraud after she bought a $2,500 . orange suede Celine bag. In April, 19-year-old student Trayon Christian said he was followed by NYPD plainclothes cops outside the store and accused of fraud after he bought a $349 Ferragamo belt. No charges were filed in both cases, but the customers filed lawsuits against the store and the NYPD. The suits are pending. Civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton met with Lee to discuss the issue, and the furor spurred an online petition asking rapper Jay-Z, who was collaborating with the luxury retailer for a holiday collection, to disassociate from it. He ultimately decided to move forward with the project, which raised money for his charitable foundation, under the condition that he helped lead the store's review of its policies. Reform: Barneys says it has trained security staff following allegations minorities were harassed at their New York flagship store (pictured) Sharpton said in a statement that Barneys' agreement with the attorney general was a 'move in the right direction towards fairness and equal respect for all consumers, but we must monitor and continue to be vigilant.' Meanwhile, minority shoppers — including actor Rob Brown — also made similar complaints last year against other New York stores including Macy's, which had paid a $600,000 fine and promised changes in 2005 after the then-attorney general made similar claims. Macy's and the 'Treme' actor reached a settlement in principle last month in his federal civil rights suit over the matter, both sides said, declining to detail the terms. In December, Barney's, Macy's and several other major retailers agreed to create and publicize a customer bill of rights. Sharpton's National Action Network plans to send people into stores to spot-check compliance, he said Monday.
last year complained that detectives followed minority customers around — even after staffers disproportionately investigated their credit-card serving African American and Hispanic shoppers to Barneys will hire an 'anti-profiling consultant' of theft, and improve training of security and Trayon Christian (left) and Kayla Phillips (right) claim they were harassed by police at