Archives
Are online gambling companies playing a sleight-of-hand?
An inquiry into the gambling industry has been launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The competition watchdogs are concerned whether the gambling companies are treating their customers fairly.
In an industry as valuable as this, it’s important the CMA investigate any potential infringements that could affect consumers.
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CMA update on the investigation in to the personal and small business banking sector
The Competition and Markets Authority has been investigating the supply of Personal Current Accounts (PCA) and banking services to small and medium sized enterprises on suspicion of anti-competitive behaviour.
The CMA conducted the investigation after complaints and concerns were made over the services retail banks provided. The main areas focused on were:
- Whether there is a weak customer response due to lack of engagement and/or barriers to searching and switching reducing the incentives on banks to compete on price and/or quality and/or to innovate;
- Whether there are barriers to entry and expansion constraining the ability of banks to enter or expand; and
- Whether the level of concentration is having an adverse effect on customers
CMA investigate care homes for the elderly
The Competition and Markets Authority has recently started a market study into the care homes for the elderly to see how well the market works, and to ensure people are being treated fairly.
Not long ago, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) began looking into whether care home providers are treating their residents and representatives in a fair manner. In this study, the CMA is encouraging any interested persons to come forward with any information to help them.
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Unfair funfair for fairgoers! CMA targets Funfair business!
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recently issued a statement of objections to the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, a trade association for the travelling funfair business, for its alleged anti-competitive practices.
The Guild’s 127-year-old carnival rules have allegedly protected their own Guild showmen from competition and reduced the chances for potential new attractions to join fairs. This could potentially limit free choice of millions of fairgoers as well as deprive them of access to improved rides and attractions. This could also hinder the fairgoers value for money as a lack of competition can mean a hike in prices.
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CMA’s investigation into the pharmaceutical industry for its steep price increase
Pharmaceutical companies are being investigated over ‘unacceptable and unethical’ price hikes.
The health department spokesman said that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are carrying out five investigations into the pharmaceutical and health sector.
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Enforcement investigation launched in the secondary ticketing sector
The Office of Fair Trading (the U.K.’s former competition watchdog) launched an investigation into the secondary ticketing market back in 2012. As a result of the investigation, four secondary ticket sellers gave undertakings to the current competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Now, the CMA has recently launched an enforcement investigation to see whether the sector are complying with consumer protection laws.
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The pharmaceutical industry’s £90 million fine for anti-competitive pricing
Earlier this month, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issued an infringement decision that two companies had breached competition laws.
The CMA found that Pfizer (Ltd and Inc) and Flynn Pharma (Ltd and Holdings) both abused their respective dominant positions by imposing unfair prices for phenytoin sodium capsules that they sold in the U.K. This infringed the Chapter II Prohibition of the Competition Act (CA) and Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
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Has DX and First Post merger created a substantial lessening of competition in the market?
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are in the process of deciding whether DX Network Services Ltd (DX) and First Post Ltd (First Post) merger has created a ‘substantial lessening of competition in the market’.
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Offering discounts can amount to breach of competition laws in the Pharmaceutical industry
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation in December 2015 for a suspected breach of EU and U.K. competition laws in the pharmaceutical industry.
The CMA are looking at whether an unnamed pharmaceutical company has abused a dominant market position by offering discounts on products, which may have breached Chapter II of the Competition Act (CA), and Article 102 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
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Director has been disqualified for five years for infringement of Competition law
This case shows the range of powers of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Recently, the CMA managed to secure the disqualification of a director who breached competition law.
Daniel Aston, a former director of Trod Limited, infringed the Competition Act from March 2011 to July 2015 by making an anti-competitive agreement with GB Eye Limited. The agreement detailed that both companies wouldn’t offer to sell licensed sport and entertainment posters and frames for a lower cost than the other.
This is a clear breach of fair competition rules.
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