BAD MARKS; EXCLUSIVE M&S fined over pyjamas price tag.

Byline: by BRIAN ROBERTS 

MARKS & Spencer was landed with a pounds 5,750 bill after being found guilty of using misleading price information at one of its discount outlets.

The case was over a confusing price tag, which led customers to believe they were getting a reduction of nearly 50 per cent - rather than 25 per cent.

Trading standards took M&S to court after shopper Julia Tomlinson complained about the tag on women's pyjamas bought at the McArthur Glen outlet in York.

The ticket showed a price of pounds 19 reduced to pounds 10 - but with another sticker showing pounds 13 underneath. She said: "It seemed to be less of a bargain than they were making out." M&S was fined pounds 750 and ordered to pay pounds 5,000 towards prosecution costs after being convicted under the Consumer Protection Act.

Judge Roger Elsey at Pickering magistrates ruled M&S had breached legislation by displaying a ticket which showed a markdown from pounds 19 to pounds 10. He said: "If price comparisons are provided they must not be misleading.

"The consumer must be able to make an informed assessment of the bargain they are getting."

Underneath the ticket was a barcode tag which showed the pyjamas had been priced at pounds 13. M&S was cleared of using misleading prices on a baby-grow and sweater.

M&S said: "There was no intention to mislead. This was two years ago and the pricing process has been changed."

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SALES: A High Street Marks & Spencer