JJB to pay replica shirt refunds

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Wigan-based retailer JJB Sports will pay out more than £20,000 as it refunds football fans who bought replica shirts from it during 2000 and 2001.

Consumer group Which? took legal action after JJB and other retailers were fined for fixing the price of shirts.

Those shoppers who joined the Which? action will get £20 from JJB for each England and Manchester United shirt bought during the time in question.

Those who did not claim via Which? can still get a £10 refund per shirt.

To get the refund, shoppers must present proof of purchase or the affected shirts at a JJB store before 5 February, 2009.

The shirts in question are Manchester United's home shirts bought between June and October 2000, and the club's centenary reversible shirts bought between June and August 2001.

The England shirts are the home strip bought between April and June 2000 and the national team's away shirts bought between April and June 2000.

'Good deal'

JJB Sports said it was it "was pleased to announce it has reached an agreement with Which? to settle the action brought against the company regarding certain replica shirts sold during certain periods in 2000 and 2001".

The firm added that a prior offer, announced on 9 February 2007, which included a free England away shirt and mug to customers who still had one of the relevant replica shirts, was no longer valid.

The legal action had been brought by Which? using its new legal powers granted under the Enterprise Act 2002.

It came after the Office of Fair Trading fined the chain and nine other firms for fixing the price of England and Manchester United shirts during 2000 and 2001.

Which? started proceedings at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, but a deal was reached with JJB to stop the action before it reached the court.

The consumer group's legal representative, Deborah Prince, said: "The agreement reached with JJB Sports is a good deal for the hundreds of consumers who purchased football shirts and joined our case against JJB.

"Many of those who purchased the relevant shirts still have the whole of next year to take their shirt or proof of purchase into a JJB store, so we encourage them to do so."