Royal Mail competition fine
First published by Author on October 05, 2018 in the following categories: Market Dominance Abuse Pricing and tagged with competition law | market abuse | pricing
A Royal Mail competition fine has been issued in the sum of £50m by the UK communications regulator for abuse of a dominant market position.
Regulators Ofcom accused the Royal Mail of penalising wholesale customers over bulk mail deliveries for things like council tax demands and bank statements. They were fined for discriminating against a rival, Whistl, who were subject to contractual changes back in 2014.
These changes included price increases that led to Whistl scrapping expansion plans that cost the business millions of pounds.
Online dating competition investigation concludes
First published by Author on September 28, 2018 in the following categories: Advertising Compensation Claims and tagged with cma | competition law | online dating
The online dating competition investigation conducted by the CMA has come to a conclusion, with undertakings agreed by Venntro Media Group Limited.
The investigation was launched in October 2017 by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) over concerns about breaches of consumer protection law. The concerns surrounded advertising, use of consumers’ data and potentially unfair terms and conditions.
Venntro has now agreed to a number of undertakings in order to satisfy the CMA’s concerns and ensure fair competition in the online dating sector.
Care home Competition and Markets Authority investigation updated
First published by Author on September 21, 2018 in the following categories: Care Homes and tagged with care home | cma | competition law
The care home Competition and Markets Authority investigation now has a key update. A consultation has been opened for drafting consumer law advice for UK providers.
The care home Competition and Markets Authority investigation has been going on since June 2017. It has been looking into a number of care home providers as a result of concerns over the contract terms and practices they engage in. The CMA have been concerned that some of the practises are breaches of consumer law.
A market study is also underway in addition to the specific care home investigations.
Do you need competition law advice?
First published by Author on September 16, 2018 in the following categories: Compensation Claims Investigations and tagged with Compensation
If you need competition law advice if you think a breach has taken place and the breach has affected you, our Competition Lawyers can help.
Whether you’re an individual who feels you’re on the wrong end of a competition breach, a business owner whose supply chain needs investigating, or a whistle-blower at an organisation where a breaches are happening, we may be able to help you.
With fines from the UK’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), potentially running into the million of pounds, and compensation claims for victims of competition breaches, organisations cannot afford to breach the law; let alone the fact they ought to be acting with the best interests of the consumer in mind anyway.
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 competition law | construction industry | pricing
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.
Pharmaceutical drugs competition investigation update
First published by Author on August 31, 2018 in the following categories: Latest
There’s been an update in the huge pharmaceutical drugs competition investigation update being conducted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The update for the investigation, which is one of many investigations in to anti-competitive behaviour in the pharmaceutical drugs sector, is now a review into suspected anti-competitive agreements. There is also at least a suspicion of concerted practices in relation to generic pharmaceutical products.
If anti-competitive behaviour or agreements are identified, big fines could be issues against the offending organisations. read more
Commitments in the Showmen’s Guild competition case
First published by Author on August 25, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma | market abuse
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) accepted commitments made after the Showmen’s Guild competition case, with a link to rules of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain 2018 published last month.
The case itself surrounded the use of rules issued by the Showmen’s Guild that reduced the ability of new attractions to join fairs, thus limiting competition. Potentially millions of funfair visitors could be affected by the issue, resulting in a stifling of competition and deprived access to new and improved rides and attractions with motivation for invocation in the sector potentially low.
With members of the Showmen’s Guild making up for some 90% of the sector in the UK, and worth an estimated £100m a year, any competition issue in the sector could clearly have a huge impact on the consumers.
CMA consider appeal in phenytoin competition case
First published by Author on August 17, 2018 in the following categories: Market Sharing Price Fixing Price Hikes Pricing and tagged with cma | competition law | market abuse | price fixing | pricing
The CMA is considering an appeal in the phenytoin competition case after a Tribunal found that the CMA ruling of market abuse is incorrect.
The phenytoin competition case is one of the most pivotal cases of our time in terms of the cost of drugs to the NHS. A number of investigations and findings have been made against pharmaceutical giants for overcharging the NHS, putting huge strains on public finances, and the CMA’s intervention is vital for the survival of our public health service.
The Tribunal decision in the phenytoin competition case is a setback that the CMA is now considering an appeal for.
Hotel booking sites watchdog investigation calls for changes
First published by Author on August 10, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations Pricing and tagged with advertising | cma
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the hotel booking sites watchdog, has called for changes in to the way rooms and ranked and displayed online.
According to the investigations initiated by the CMA , concerns are being raised about potentially false or misleading discounts, and false representations about room availability to pressure people into making booking decisions.
With the majority of people using online booking sites nowadays, any potential infringement of competition law must be closely scrutinised.
Informing the CMA of a competition concern
First published by Author on August 03, 2018 in the following categories: Industry and tagged with cma | competition law
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.