Tag: comparison sites
CMA investigates fake online reviews on Amazon and Google sites
First published by Author on May 05, 2022 in the following categories: Consumer Law Digital Industry Investigations and tagged with advertising | cma | comparison sites | competition law | consumer law | incentives | investigations
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) previously announced that it had begun an investigation into potentially fake online reviews which may exist on major websites and online marketplaces. It is understood that there may be concerns that businesses are not doing enough to monitor and take down misleading reviews, and that some could be benefiting from them.
Since the birth of online shopping, consumers have been afforded a huge breadth of choice when buying products or services, and all in an easy way. However, the internet also comes with risks for consumers, with many scammers and disreputable businesses trying to take advantage of the faceless nature of online shopping, hiding behind a screen as they attempt to convince unsuspecting consumers to make purchases.
The existence of fake online reviews is one of the major downsides to online shopping, posing a difficulty for consumers as authenticity can often be hard to assess accurately. It is, therefore, important that businesses appropriately oversee online reviews and remove the fake ones, or they could be unfairly profiting from the deception of customers.
Regulators target fake and misleading online reviews
First published by Author on October 23, 2019 in the following categories: Advertising Consumer Law and tagged with advertising | cma | comparison sites | competition law | investigations | market abuse
The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) is targeting fake and misleading online reviews because of the unfair impact it can have on competition within markets.
Nowadays, where most things can be bought and sold online, so can testimonials for products and services, and it’s this practice that the CMA’s aiming to stop. With how much influence the statements of other customers can have when it’s never been easier to shop around quickly, it seems that some companies are prepared to try and influence consumer choice with the power of fake reviews.
At the same time, it can be just as easy for someone to pay for bad reviews to hit one of their competitors as well.
Random Argos price changes?
First published by Author on January 04, 2019 in the following categories: Price Hikes Pricing and tagged with comparison sites | pricing | retail
An investigation last year reportedly indicated randomness in terms of Argos price changes, alongside Amazon, AO, John Lewis and Currys PC World.
The internet has allowed for price comparison to be a huge factor in consumer decision making. In the aftermath of Christmas, when sales are everywhere, the consumer is expecting to make some savings.
But a consumer report last year reportedly indicated some strange behaviours when it came to Argos price changes. The same was also found for Amazon, AO, John Lewis and Currys PC World as well.
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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CMA opens investigations into car rental comparison sites for alleged hidden costs
First published by Admin on December 01, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma | comparison sites
The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) has announced they’re opening enforcement cases against two car rental price comparison sites on suspicion that some of their practices may be anti-competitive. The decision follows the recent investigations the CMA has been working on with regards to hidden charges made by five major car rental companies.
Car rental price comparison websites can be very useful for customers to find the cheapest offer for hiring a car according to their specifications. However, this of course only works if the price comparison tool is fair and fully accurate.
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