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Privately funded healthcare services deadline looming
The deadline for continuing the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into the privately funded healthcare services is looming.
The CMA has been looking into whether there’s any anti-competitive arrangements in the sector. If there are, competition may be stifled, and the consumer may be getting hit in the pocket.
When it comes to investigations that involve healthcare, they can often be the most important ones. They say that you can’t put a price on your health, but in reality, big medical companies and pharmaceutical giants literally do just that.
Supply of precast concrete drainage investigation update
Here’s the latest in the investigation into the suspected cartel arrangements in the supply of precast concrete drainage sector.
The investigation being conducted by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) was launched way back in 2016. Since then, a number of steps have been taken, and admissions of participating in cartel behaviour have been made at the end of 2018.
The final penalty amounts have yet to be concluded and issued, but based on the most recent update from the CMA, we expect to be seeing more updates soon.
The ongoing Viagogo court case between the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the secondary ticketing website is about to step up.
The CMA are reportedly moving ahead with contempt of court proceedings on the basis that they say Viagogo is still failing to adhere to a court order obtained earlier this year.
This is huge news, and it’s alarming to hear that the CMA considers that the ticketing resellers are still failing to comply with a court order. Following a market sector review, a number of firms changed their behaviours, but it appears that Viagogo isn’t fully complying.
Updates in the funeral market investigation
There has been a couple of updates in the ongoing funeral market investigation being carried out by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK.
We’ve been tracking this investigation for quite some time, and it’s one of particular importance given the sector and subject. There will always be a market for these kinds of services, and the market will likely continue to grow. As such, any concerns with regards to competition law is a matter that the CMA must look into in detail.
Since our previous article on the investigation, there has been a couple of updates.
End of contract alerts to be initiated in the UK
We welcome the move to enforce end of contract alerts, which is set to put the consumer firmly back behind the steering wheel when it comes to their contracts for key services.
From February 2020, broadband, phone and TV companies will have to notify their customers when they’re close to the expiry date of their contract. They’ll also have to provide information about pricing and better deals they can offer, as well as clearer information about how to cancel.
The move is aimed to stop consumers aimlessly walking into new contracts and not knowing when their current term has elapsed. This ties in with the loyalty penalty super complaint, and is designed to make sure the consumer is put first.
Provisional finding in the CMA roofing materials investigation
There’s been a provisional finding in the CMA roofing materials investigation that was launched in the summer of 2017, with three major suppliers alleged to be in a cartel.
The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) believes that the three alleged cartel companies have been allocating customers, as well as information sharing and colluding on price. This type of behaviour usually only leads to one thing: bigger profits for the companies, and higher costs for the consumer.
An allegation of a cartel finding is incredibly serious, and the companies at the heart of this investigation could be issued significant fines that can run into the millions.
Suspected anti-competitive agreements in the musical instruments sector
Regulators have opened investigations into the musical instruments sector on the basis that there may be anti-competitive agreements that can be detrimental to the consumer.
The investigation has been launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) who are the UK’s primary watchdog when it comes to enforcing healthy competition. Anti-competitive agreements that result in cartels, price fixing, and other forms of collusion can be damaging to the consumer. Profits can be inflated for the businesses, and the consumer can end up paying more; which is the opposite to what healthy competition should ensure.
It’s therefore within the public’s interests for suspected anti-competitive agreements to be thoroughly investigated. If the consumer is being ripped off, the companies involved in the behaviour must be punished.
Further action set for the CMA’s secondary ticketing and Viagogo case?
There’s more news in the Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA) secondary ticketing and Viagogo case. And it could be huge.
You may recall that we’ve been tracking this case for a while now. At the start of 2019, a Viagogo, StubHub and Ticketmaster were all required to undertake serious changes to their business behaviour. This came in to effect as of midnight on 17th January 2019.
However, the CMA conducted some simple checks on 24th January 2019. They say that they found that Viagogo had failed to comply with the court order against them. Now, Viagogo is potentially facing further legal action for contempt of court.
Provisional finding in hydrocortisone competition case
There’s been a provisional finding by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the important hydrocortisone competition case, with a Statement of Objections issued.
In the coming weeks, the CMA expect written and oral representations to be made following the Statement of Objections that’s been issued.
The provisional findings of the CMA are incredibly worrying. It all comes down whether the two companies at the heart of the investigation colluded in order to charge higher prices and make bigger profits; all at the expense of our NHS, and our hard-earned tax money.
Latest in the statutory audit market study
The statutory audit market study was launched in October 2018, and we’re set to know more about the outcomes toward the end of this year.
This is a key market sector where the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) has raised a number of concerns that they’re looking into. Despite previous improvements in the sector that appear to have strengthened competition, Deloitte, E&Y, KPMG and PwC reportedly remain the “go-to” auditors for the majority of large companies.
There’s also a concern as to whether there’s a lack of incentive to produce challenging reviews in terms of the performance of the companies as well.