LEFT COLD BY BANK'S BOILER COVER ; This is no ordinary pricing blunder ... this is an M&S pricing blunder

PUB landlord Kelvin Henderson thought it was too good to be truewhen he spotted a bargain on the internet ... and it was. Kelvin sawa settee for pounds 29.50 from a top retailer when he was surfingthe net.

He decided to go ahead with the purchase from Marks and Spencerthinking it was his lucky day. But his order was cancelled when thestore realised the correct price was pounds 999. Bosses at the storehad previously confirmed the placement of the order by email. Theyeven told Kelvin to make sure the furniture would fit into his roomand phoned to arranged a delivery date for the corner unit.

Kelvin, landlord of the Red Lion in Wooler, Northumberland, said:"I was furious because, as far as I was concerned, I had purchased anew settee from Marks and Spencer over the internet.

"The item was priced at pounds 29.50 so I clicked 'buy' andentered my card details.

"I received a confirmation email and a phone call to arrange adelivery date. Later, I received a new email from M&S to say myorder had been cancelled because of a pricing error.

"Surely they can't do this as I have rights as a consumer?" Hesaid the confirmation email matched the price of pounds 29.50 with acorrect description of the goods.

He said: "Marks and Spencer knew what they were selling and forhow much. They should have taken more care when they sold me thesettee."

A spokesman for Marks and Spencer admitted Kelvin had receivedacknowledgement of the order and a phone call setting up a deliverydate.

They said they were unable to honour the price and no financialagreement had been set up. Corporate PR manager Daniel Himsworthsaid: "As we thought, it was an online pricing error.

"As soon as the error was picked up we wrote to the customer toapologise and explain what had happened. Payment was never taken forthe order.

Such errors happen very rarely but, when they do, and it is aclear pricing error, we will always contact the customer at theearliest possibly opportunity to cancel the order and apologise.

"This is clearly stated in our terms and conditions and is commonpractice across the industr y."