Archives
Do you need competition law advice?
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
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.
Commitments in the Showmen’s Guild competition case
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.
Hotel booking sites watchdog investigation calls for changes
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.
Venntro Media Group complaints leads to CMA warning
Venntro Media Group complaints has led to a warning issued from the UK’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
According to the recent report, Venntro had the profiles of users of some of their online dating platforms appear on other website platforms, including websites containing explicit adult content. The CMA found that users’ information was being held on a central database, making their profiles visible on websites they hadn’t signed up to.
Venntro Media Group complaints were received by the CMA by people who were not happy that they had been signed-up to websites without realising or being properly informed; especially when some of those were adult websites.
Boots overcharging the NHS for pain-relief mouthwash
Boots overcharging the NHS for pain relief mouthwash is a serious allegation that must be closely investigated.
The allegations are that the company behind high-street chain Boots, Walgreens Boots Alliance, are reportedly overcharging the NHS by almost 3,500% for pain-relieving mouthwash used by cancer patients.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are considering the issue and health Minister, Steve Brine, is calling for an urgent investigation.
Musical instruments and equipment sector competition investigations
The musical instruments and equipment sector is in the midst of competition investigations over suspected anti-competitive agreements.
The UK’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), are investigating the sector in accordance with Chapter I CA98 and Article 101 TFEU.
This massively profitable market sector has boomed in recent years. Now, under the microscope of UK competition regulators, we will find out if there is anything that the consumers need to be concerned about when it comes to competition within the market.
Competition and Markets Authority study in to the heat networks market
At the end of last year, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a study in to the heat networks market, which is the market that involves the generation and distribution of heat to buildings.
The study was launched to ensure that the market was working for the consumers, and since the launch of their investigations at the end of 2017, a number of action steps have taken place.
These kinds of studies are common for the CMA to engage in as they look at any sector in the UK to make sure there is healthy competition and ensure that the consumer is always being treated fairly. The CMA will usually talk to the businesses involved in the market and obtain data from consumers and public sector sources.
The CMA are investigating the provision of residential estate agency services
The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) are investigating the provision of residential estate agency services over suspicions that there may be anti-competitive agreements in place, contrary to Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998 (CA98).
The investigation came off the back of information gleaned from a previous investigations involving residential estate agency services in the Burnham-on-Sea area.
Not a great deal of information has been released about his one given that the investigation is in its infancy, but it could be a big one if the CMA find that there are anti-competitive arrangements in place.
Customers being duped into bogus holiday discounts and deals
According to investigations by consumer group Which?, who have asked Trading Standards to investigate travel firms, consumers are potentially being duped into purchasing holiday deals in bogus sales and discount schemes.
Promotions were reportedly tracked, and it was found that some discounts and deals were available for the same price or less after a time-limited “sale” had ended.
Some travel firms are being accused of offering misleading discounts to dupe holidaymakers into paying hundreds of pounds more than necessary off the back of bogus deals.
Read More