Expert legal advice from The Competition Lawyers

Category: Industry

Undertakings in the online gambling competition investigation

First published by Author on November 23, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations and tagged with | | |

gambling

The regulatory investigation into online gambling competition led to undertaking being signed by key players in the market.

Undertakings are always a positive step in ensuring there’s fair competition in the market. The regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), declared enforcement action earlier this year. Now, two big companies in the market have agreed to formal undertakings to improve their practises.

This should ensure that online gambling competition is healthy and consistent. This approach should always benefit the consumer.

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Victory in Ping competition appeal tribunal

First published by Author on November 02, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Latest Selling Restrictions and tagged with | |

production and broadcasting of sports

The CMA’s previous competition infringement decision has been upheld at the Ping competition appeal tribunal.

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) had previously established a breach finding against Ping Europe Limited. Ping had banned the sale of its golf clubs online which had triggered an investigation by the CMA.

Having assessed the issue, the CMA found that Ping was in breach of competition law by stopping two UK retailers from selling their golf clubs online. The Ping competition appeal tribunal has now upheld the original finding of the breach as well.

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The loyalty penalty super complaint

First published by Author on October 26, 2018 in the following categories: Compensation Claims Industry Latest and tagged with

car rental sites

A loyalty penalty super complaint has been initiated, which is being investigated by UK’s competition regulators, the CMA.

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) are looking into the issue. A super complaint is a complaint usually made by a consumer body where a large number of consumers may be affected by the same issue. The complaint aims to ensure that consumers are always getting a fair deal instead of being ripped off.

The loyalty penalty super complaint relates to the mobile phone, broadband, savings accounts, mortgages and household insurance markets.

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The funerals market study

First published by Author on October 19, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Latest and tagged with | |

green heating and insulation

The funerals market study is a currently being conducted by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) in the UK.

The scope of the funerals market study is to find out more information about the market to ensure it’s working fairly and efficiently. The key areas being assessed by the CMA include customer behaviours, customer experiences and decision-making processes that have led to customer decisions.

The review was initiated in summer this year and remains ongoing.

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Design, construction and fit-out competition case to continue

First published by Author on September 07, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Latest and tagged with | |

cma construction

Watchdog investigations into the design, construction and fit-out competition issues is set to go on, according to a recent update published by the CMA.

The CMA – the Competition and Markets Authority – have been investigating the industry since July 2017 on the basis of suspected anti-competitive agreements that may be having an adverse effect on the market, and therefore the consumer.

A year on from the CMA’s investigations commencing, the CMA has taken the decision to extend the investigation with the view to publish a further update toward the end of the year.

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Informing the CMA of a competition concern

First published by Author on August 03, 2018 in the following categories: Industry and tagged with |

Informing the CMA of a competition concern can be vital to ensure that our markets are fair, and to ensure they’re focused on consumer confidence and competitive pricing.

You may find yourself, as a business, embroiled in a potential competition issue. It may be that you’re being asked to engage in price-fixing or market-sharing, or you may discover that suppliers or competitors are engaging in behaviour that’s in breach of the Competition Act.

Discovering this can be worrying, but we can help. As the Competition Lawyers, we can guide you through the process of a damages claim as well as the matter of informing the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) of a competition concern.

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Google competition breach yields massive fine

First published by Author on July 20, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Latest and tagged with |

Amazon marketplace investigation

A Google competition breach has yielded a massive fine imposed by the European Commission over its behaviour surrounding Android phones.

The fine amounts to £3.9bn ($5bn) and is based on Google’s search-related revenue earned during the period the competition breach is said to have taken place.

The investigations into the Google competition breach stem back to 2015 and surround impositions of pre-installed browsers and search apps that it’s claimed has led to users not looking for alternatives, with Google paying huge sums to manufacturers to pre-install its own software.

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Are we seeing any changes following the retail banking investigations?

First published by Author on July 13, 2018 in the following categories: Industry and tagged with

Following changes made by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for banking practices, are we seeing any changes following the retail banking investigations?

The major issues surrounding the retail banking investigations was about barriers to entry for new banks stifling competition, as well as customers staying with their banks due to restrictions for changing banks, overdraft issues and customer engagement concerns.

The CMA found that relevant industry practises and issues had allowed for competition to fall within the category of ‘prevented, restricted and / or distorted’. Since big changes were made, have we seen any benefits?

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Are online gambling companies treating their customers fairly?

First published by Author on May 11, 2018 in the following categories: Industry and tagged with

gambling

Are online gambling companies treating their customers fairly? The UK’s Competition and Market’s Authority (CMA) has been reviewing the industry for a while now, and with the recent story about gambling company LeoVegas said to be “failing” problem gamblers, it’s a market that needs a very close eye on it.

The CMA has been asking online gambling firms to agree to a number of undertakings as they continue to watch over this lucrative but also somewhat problematic industry.

The CMA has written to more online gambling firms about their practices recently as a number of enforcement actions have been taken to ensure the market is healthy, and ensure online gamblers are free of unfair obstacles and practises.

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New draft of consumer law regulations attempts to improve quality of life for residents within the UK care home industry

First published by Author on April 27, 2018 in the following categories: Industry and tagged with |

cma investigate elderly care homes

A new draft consumer law advice for the UK care home industry is being considered, with a particular focus on curbing charges after a resident’s death.

The care home industry has been under close scrutiny in recent years from the UK’s competition watchdog – The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) – over families bearing the costs of fees after a resident has passed away. The CMA has been looking at the industry as a whole to ensure there is fair competition to keep fees down in an era where elderly care is both costly and straining under a continually ageing population.
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