Amazon adverts under fire for being misleading
First published by Author on June 08, 2018 in the following categories: Advertising Pricing and tagged with advertising | pricing
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.
Competition and Markets Authority study in to the heat networks market
First published by Author on June 01, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma
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.
Epilepsy pill price hike of 1,300%
First published by Author on May 25, 2018 in the following categories: Price Hikes and tagged with price fixing
An epilepsy pill price hike of 1,300% has raised eyebrows given that the healthcare authorities have, in reality, had no choice but to accept the massive increase.
The US company at the centre of the price hike, Essential Phrama, claims that the monumental price hike is vital to “ensure the continued supply” of the epilepsy pill, but with such huge costs usually having to be borne on healthcare authorities and patients, questions must be asked.
In the UK, it’s common for such huge price hikes to be investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA); the competition watchdog whose job is to ensure fair competition that’s in the interests of consumers.
The CMA are investigating the provision of residential estate agency services
First published by Author on May 18, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations
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.
Are online gambling companies treating their customers fairly?
First published by Author on May 11, 2018 in the following categories: Industry and tagged with online gambling
Are online gambling companies treating their customers fairly? The UK’s Competition and Market’s Authority (CMA) has been reviewing the industry for a while now, and with the recent story about gambling company LeoVegas said to be “failing” problem gamblers, it’s a market that needs a very close eye on it.
The CMA has been asking online gambling firms to agree to a number of undertakings as they continue to watch over this lucrative but also somewhat problematic industry.
The CMA has written to more online gambling firms about their practices recently as a number of enforcement actions have been taken to ensure the market is healthy, and ensure online gamblers are free of unfair obstacles and practises.
Asda-Sainsbury’s merger will raise competition questions
First published by Author on May 03, 2018 in the following categories: Mergers and tagged with cma | competition law
The Asda-Sainsbury’s merger will raise competition questions and will, we strongly suspect, draw the attention of the UK’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Market’s Authority (CMA), who will conduct a review to assess the impact the merger may have on the market.
With the merger set to result in Asda and Sainsbury’s controlling 60% of the market, the CMA will need to ensure that any merger that does go ahead – if it’s even allowed to proceed in the first place – will not put consumers in a worse position in the long-run.
Consumers are being promised price cuts of 10%, but in the absence of any specificity as to the products that will be cut, the potential merger has raised a lot of eyebrows.
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New draft of consumer law regulations attempts to improve quality of life for residents within the UK care home industry
First published by Author on April 27, 2018 in the following categories: Industry and tagged with care home | cma
A new draft consumer law advice for the UK care home industry is being considered, with a particular focus on curbing charges after a resident’s death.
The care home industry has been under close scrutiny in recent years from the UK’s competition watchdog – The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) – over families bearing the costs of fees after a resident has passed away. The CMA has been looking at the industry as a whole to ensure there is fair competition to keep fees down in an era where elderly care is both costly and straining under a continually ageing population.
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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 hire websites | cma | comparison 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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UK pharmaceutical companies paying millions of pounds to healthcare professionals
First published by Author on April 13, 2018 in the following categories: Incentives and tagged with competition law | incentives | medical
According to a report from The Times newspaper, UK pharmaceutical companies are reportedly paying millions of pounds to healthcare professionals and other organisations.
American pharmaceutical companies have previously come under fire for reportedly paying healthcare professionals to push their products, and it now appears the UK may have the same problem.
According to The Times, two of the biggest pharmaceutical players in the UK have been making “secret payments” of almost £20 million to reportedly “plug” their products.
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Customers being duped into bogus holiday discounts and deals
First published by Author on April 06, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with holiday 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.
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