Trading Standards probes Hearts deal

A CONSUMER watchdog is investigating a season ticket campaign led by Hearts after receiving complaints that fans had been “misled”.

Trading Standards said it had launched a probe into the club’s new “dynamic pricing structure” that saw scores of fans try to take advantage of a bargain season ticket price, only to discover they were paying up to £70 more than was advertised.

It comes just days after the News revealed the Advertising Standards Authority was considering whether to investigate the club after similar complaints were brought to it.

The advertising watchdog is still deciding whether there are grounds to investigate, a spokeswoman said.

Last week, Hearts apologised for the debacle saying they had “learnt lessons” and expressed “regret for problems that arose”.

A council spokesman said: “Any complaints received will be investigated by our Trading Standards team as per normal procedures.”

Hearts declined to comment.