Expert legal advice from The Competition Lawyers

Category: Pricing

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 |

booking sites

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.

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Price fixing advice on a confidential basis

First published by Author on July 27, 2018 in the following categories: Price Fixing Price Hikes Pricing and tagged with |

If you need Price fixing advice on a confidential basis, we can advise you, and we may be able to assist you with legal action as well.

Many instances of competition law infringements are highlighted by investigations conducted by the UK’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), or where a whistle-blower from an organisation involved in something like price fixing comes forward and confesses the activity to regulators.

But what about the traders and small businesses who are in need of price fixing advice as a victim of it themselves?

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Boots overcharging the NHS for pain-relief mouthwash

First published by Author on June 29, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations Price Hikes Pricing and tagged with | |

investigation into retail banking competition

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.

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Musical instruments and equipment sector competition investigations

First published by Author on June 22, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations Pricing and tagged with |

musical instruments investigation

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.

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Supply of solid fuel and charcoal products competition breach

First published by Author on June 15, 2018 in the following categories: Bid-Rigging Market Sharing Pricing and tagged with | | |

solid fuel cma investigation

The CMA say they have found that a fuel cartel has been in place following their investigation into the supply of solid fuel and charcoal products coming to a head.

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) has fined two of the main suppliers in the market of bagged household fuels a total of £3.4 million having been found to have taken part in an illegal market-sharing cartel.

The two suppliers, CPL and Fuel Express, have been found in breach of competition laws by rigging competitive tenders for the supply of fuel products to Tesco and Sainsburys.

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Amazon adverts under fire for being misleading

First published by Author on June 08, 2018 in the following categories: Advertising Pricing and tagged with |

green heating and insulation

Amazon adverts have come under fire for being ‘misleading’ in relation to advertised price savings for four electronic products. Each advert reportedly received at least one complaint, and a subsequent investigation by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) reportedly upheld the complaints.

The Amazon adverts in question were for savings of £220 that could be achieved for an LG Smart TV; £193 on a ViewSonic monitor; £300 on an MSI laptop; and £185 on a Philips electronic toothbrush.

Despite protestation from Amazon, the ASA found that there was a lack of evidence to support the advertised savings.

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CMA clamp down on car hire websites over “hidden” costs

First published by Author on April 20, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Pricing and tagged with | |

car rental sites

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have clamped down on car hire websites over “hidden” costs, resulting in changes as to how quotes are to be presented, and ensuring more information is provided as to what additional costs could be incurred.

The investigation has seen online travel agent P&P Associates Ltd, as well as price comparison website companies Affordable Car Hire Ltd and Flexiblecarhire.com Ltd, commit to ensuring all compulsory charges are contained within quotes.

Now, things like fuel surcharges, additional fees for young drivers and out-of-hours pick up charges must be included in the initial quotes.
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