M&S opens door to credit cards

The ailing Marks & Spencer chain breaks with tradition today and will start taking credit cards at its 297 UK stores.

The company's decision to start accepting cards has been prompted by its recent downturn in sales and is one of a raft of measures designed to woo back shoppers who have deserted the brand.

Until now M&S has resolutely refused to take credit cards as a way of encouraging customers to use its own Chargecard. Some analysts believe the group's profitable chargecard operations are bound to be undermined by the new choices.

The group announced last November that it had decided to end its ban on credit cards - only weeks after John Lewis, the only other big retailer which had also operated such a ban, also reversed its policy.

M&S shoppers will now be able to use a wide range of payment cards including Visa, Mastercard and American Express as well as debit cards.

Carol Stockill, Marks & Spencer's Credit Card Programme manager said: "We are committed to delivering the highest levels of service to our customers and making the shopping experience as easy as possible.

"We're very confident that our customers will welcome being able to use credit cards in our shops".

M&S will also accept credit card payment for online and mail order sales.