Category: Investigations
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.
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.
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.
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.
Undertakings in the online gambling competition investigation
First published by Author on November 23, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations and tagged with cma | competition law | market abuse | online 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.
The CMA statutory audit market investigation
First published by Author on November 16, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations Latest and tagged with cma | incentives | investigations
The CMA’s (Competition and Markets Authority) statutory audit market investigation was launched last month.
A number of key issues are being looked into by the CMA to make sure that the market is working fairly and efficiently. Comments on the key issues are being invited, and a statutory deadline has been applied to the investigation.
It’s early days, with the investigation only being launched last month. It’s another important one for us to keep an eye on as lawyers who fight for competition to be fair and consumer-focused!
Most favoured nation clause competition law investigation
First published by Author on November 09, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations Market Dominance Abuse and tagged with cma | market abuse | pricing
There’s been an update in an ongoing most favoured nation clause competition law investigation being conducted by the CMA.
The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) has an open investigation looking into whether there’s been a breach of competition law. This case surrounds the use of a ‘most favoured nation clause’ used by a price comparison website in the home insurance market.
The companies being investigated for alleged breaches of competition law include BGL (Holdings) Limited; BGL Group Limited; BISL Limited (BISL); and Compare The Market Limited.
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 cma | competition law | market abuse
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.