Archives
The loyalty penalty super complaint
A loyalty penalty super complaint has been initiated, which is being investigated by UK’s competition regulators, the CMA.
The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) are looking into the issue. A super complaint is a complaint usually made by a consumer body where a large number of consumers may be affected by the same issue. The complaint aims to ensure that consumers are always getting a fair deal instead of being ripped off.
The loyalty penalty super complaint relates to the mobile phone, broadband, savings accounts, mortgages and household insurance markets.
The funerals market study is a currently being conducted by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) in the UK.
The scope of the funerals market study is to find out more information about the market to ensure it’s working fairly and efficiently. The key areas being assessed by the CMA include customer behaviours, customer experiences and decision-making processes that have led to customer decisions.
The review was initiated in summer this year and remains ongoing.
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.
Pharmaceutical drugs competition investigation update
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
Google competition breach yields massive fine
A Google competition breach has yielded a massive fine imposed by the European Commission over its behaviour surrounding Android phones.
The fine amounts to £3.9bn ($5bn) and is based on Google’s search-related revenue earned during the period the competition breach is said to have taken place.
The investigations into the Google competition breach stem back to 2015 and surround impositions of pre-installed browsers and search apps that it’s claimed has led to users not looking for alternatives, with Google paying huge sums to manufacturers to pre-install its own software.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has hit Ping Europe Limited (Ping) with a fine of £1.45m for refusing to allow their golf clubs to be sold online.
They have also been forced to repeal their online sales ban immediately.
The CMA ultimately found that Ping’s online sales ban was a restriction that could adversely affect competition in the market by closing one of the most important distribution channels available to the retailers involved; i.e. the world wide web.
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A little about competition law…
Competition law allows for fair competition to be maintained between companies and prevents companies taking part in anti-competitive behaviour.
The UK is governed by UK and EU competition laws, and if it’s found that a company has engaged in anti-competitive behaviour, there can be serious consequences. The two common ways in which competition law can be breached is: engaging in anti-competitive agreements; abuse of a dominant market position.
Both can lead to fines for offending companies.
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Competition and Markets Authority determines TalkTalk and CityFibre appeals over BT leased lines
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has made a determination after TalkTalk and CityFibre have allegedly been overcharged for BT leased lines.
Leased lines are “high quality, dedicated, point-to-point data transmissions services” for essential communication services. BT leases out these lines to other telecommunication provides like TalkTalk and CityFibre, but the control they have other the prices has been disputed by the two users.
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A look back at the 2014 supply of medicines to care homes case
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are currently embroiled in a lot of investigations over the pricing of medicines, and it’s been something of a hot topic for quite some time. In 2014, two pharmaceutical companies were fined for breaching competition laws by entering into a cartel to reduce the competition of supplying medicines to care homes.
Lloyds’ Pharmacy and Tomms Pharmacy were the two companies involved in the cartel between May and November 2011, and they were justifiably investigated and fined as a result of their activities.
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The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) introduced some rules for the Showmen’s Guild to help tackle prohibited activities and improve competition for travelling fairs.
The Guild is the largest existing association of fairs, consisting of 90% of all funfairs and representing over 5,000 showmen members in the U.K.
However, the Guild enforces rules that can arguably make it difficult for non-guild members to set up their own fairs to compete with Guild members; so much so that it can impede national and EU competition laws.
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