A thrifty shopper has led to low-cost supermarket chain Lidl being fined £7,000 after he was repeatedly overcharged for wine.

Sutton Magistrates' Court fined the Wimbledon-based company for breaches of consumer protection legislation at its stores in Morden and Wallington.

Lidl was prosecuted by Sutton Council's trading standards team after receiving complaints.

The court heard that in June last year, the man was shopping at Lidl's in Morden when he spotted Bordeaux wine for £2.49 a bottle.

However, he was asked to pay £3.49 at the checkout. After complaining to staff and checking the price, he was allowed to pay the lower cost.

At the same store a few days later he again bought the same wine and was asked to pay £3.49 even though it was advertised for £1 less.

He then went to Lidl's in Beddington Gardens, Wallington, and the same error occurred.

The shopper reported the incidents to trading standards officers in both Sutton and Merton. Test purchases resulted in the same outcome and an investigation was launched.

The company was interviewed and it was found the mistake had been made after the wine's price was increased centrally by computer, but stores were not notified or given new price displays.

July 8, 2002 10:00