Tag: cma
Crackdown after social media influencer investigation
First published by Author on February 08, 2019 in the following categories: Incentives Investigations Latest Selling Restrictions and tagged with advertising | cma | competition law | incentives | investigations
A crackdown has been launched after a social media influencer investigation raised concerns that some product endorsements may be breaching vital competition law.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reportedly written to a number of high-profile celebrities about their social media influencing habits. As a result of the warning letters, some social medial influencers have promised to clearly state if they’re being rewarded for endorsing products. Among those who have made the formal commitments are singers Rita Ora and Ellie Goulding.
We welcome this move and the cooperation of those involved so far.
Pharmaceutical competition investigation extended
First published by Author on February 01, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Investigations and tagged with cma | competition law | market study | Pharmaceuticals | pricing
The pharmaceutical competition investigation has had a key deadline extended this month. The time being allowed for the analysis of information has been moved.
The ongoing pharmaceutical competition investigation is an important one. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking into potential breaches of important competition law. Specifically, they’re looking at two different generic pharmaceutical drugs and whether there are illegal anti-competitive agreements and conduct in place.
This is an important sector when it comes to healthy competition. Any breaches need to be severely punished.
Investigation into financial services sector for suspected anti-competitive practices
First published by Author on January 25, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Latest and tagged with cma | investigations
The CMA opened an investigation into the financial services sector for suspected anti-competitive practices at the end of last year.
The investigation has only just begun, so no assumptions are made as of yet. The particular companies who may be of interest in the investigation are yet to be named, and it’s the initial information-gathering stage that has begun.
The financial services sector is a huge one, so healthy competition is important. Any breaches of the law will need to be punished accordingly.
CMA secondary ticketing investigation updated
First published by Author on January 18, 2019 in the following categories: Investigations Latest Price Hikes Pricing and tagged with cma | pricing | secondary ticketing
There has been another update in the CMA secondary ticketing investigation following on from the recent court action against Viagogo.
As of yesterday, the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) demanded that a number of the big players in the secondary ticketing market must have improved their business behaviour. This ongoing investigation and review is hugely important given the growth in touts and overcharging. This is among practices that have arguably made pricing unclear, with the consumer not being protected by the market players.
The changes that the CMA are pushing through should help to defend the consumers against unfair practices. It should ensure consumer rights are not infringed and should enforce the ticketing companies to act more responsibly.
Latest in the care homes consumer protection case
First published by Author on January 11, 2019 in the following categories: Care Homes and tagged with care home | cma
The latest update in the care homes consumer protection case is a big one. Letters before action have been issued against Care UK.
According to the latest from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), a letter before action has been sent to Social Care Holdings Limited and Care UK Community Partnerships Limited. Together, they make up ‘Care UK’.
The reasons for the latest action comes are a period of consultation and a lack of undertakings being provided.
Extra time allowed in the Asda Sainsbury merger investigation
First published by Author on December 28, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Mergers and tagged with cma | marktet sharing | mergers
Extra time has been allowed for the lawyers involved in the Asda Sainsbury merger as the CMA looks to protect consumer rights and ensure healthy competition remains.
When news of the £7.3bn Asda Sainsbury merger hit the news, the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) were quick to act. Their role as the UK’s competition watchdog is to ensure that the behaviours of businesses in a market does not come at a detriment to the consumer. In this investigation, the concern is over whether prices could increase as the merger would lead to the companies overtaking Tesco as the largest supermarket chain in the UK.
The extra time that has been allowed is for the lawyers acting in the Asda Sainsbury merger venture to respond to a number of concerns that have been raised.
Loyalty penalty CMA investigation concludes
First published by Author on December 21, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Price Hikes Pricing and tagged with cma | competition law | incentives | investigations | loyalty penalties | pricing
The massive loyalty penalty CMA investigation – deemed a ‘super complaint’ – has resulted in a set of reforms to stop the issue affecting people.
The investigation found “damaging practices by firms, which exploit unsuspecting customers”. This issue is estimated to equate to a cost to the consumer in the region of £4bn per year. There are thought to be millions of people affected by loyalty penalties.
The loyalty penalty CMA investigation looked at five markets: savings; insurance; mortgages; mobile phone contracts; and broadband. New regulatory rules are set to be introduced to stamp out the loyalty penalty endemic.
The Heathrow parking competition infringements case
First published by Author on December 14, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Latest Price Fixing Pricing and tagged with cma | price fixing | pricing
A hefty fine has been issued in the wake of the Heathrow parking competition investigation that drew to a conclusion a couple of months ago.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued a fine of £1.6m to Heathrow after they admitted to competition law infringements. The fine was originally £2m, but as a result of Heathrow’s cooperation and acceptance of wrongdoing, they received a leniency discount of 20%.
The investigation surrounds how parking charge rates were set in connection with the operator of Terminal 5 Hotel, Arora Group.
Viagogo taken to court by the CMA!
First published by Author on December 07, 2018 in the following categories: Compensation Claims Investigations Selling Restrictions and tagged with cma | Compensation | competition law | secondary ticketing
Big news in the competition industry right now is the news of Viagogo taken to court by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority).
Proceedings were launched by the CMA in August 2018. This came off the back of the longstanding reviews and investigations they’ve been conducting into the secondary ticketing market.
Following the recent court case, the CMA has obtained a court order which compels Viagogo to change their business behaviour. It also opens the door for potentially millions of ponds to be paid back in compensation to customers. On top of that, they will also have to pay a third-party auditor to monitor their practices.
Huge funeral costs investigation development
First published by Author on November 29, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Latest Pricing and tagged with cma | competition law | funerals market | market abuse | pricing
There’s been a huge development in the regulator’s funeral costs investigation that we’ve been tracking for a long time now.
The Regulators, the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority), are set to move from a market study to a referral for a market investigation. Their interim report states that there are “reasonable grounds for suspecting that a feature or combination of features of a market or markets in the UK prevents, restricts or distorts competition”.
The CMA now want to look into any adverse impact on the consumer. For a huge and sensitive market that’s worth something like £2bn a year, this is big news.