Expert legal advice from The Competition Lawyers

Tag: investigations

Privately funded healthcare competition investigation

First published by Author on August 09, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Investigations and tagged with | | |

overpriced hydrocortisone tablets

The privately funded healthcare competition investigation was initiated by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) last month.

At this stage, it’s only an initial investigation, and as the CMA often confirm, there are no assumptions to be made at this moment in time. What we do know is that a decision as to whether the investigation will continue or not is set to be made in the next couple of months.

As more and more services are outsourced to the private sector in relation to healthcare, this could be a significant investigation.

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Barchester consumer protection case

First published by Author on August 01, 2019 in the following categories: Care Homes Pricing and tagged with | | |

retirement homes investigation

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is taking action in the Barchester consumer protection case under the pretence that consumer laws may have been broken.

The wider action surrounding care homes in the UK has been going on for over two years now, and we recently reported about the court action launched against Care UK.

Now, the CMA has sent a letter before action to Barchester Healthcare Limited, Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited, Grove Limited and Barchester Holdco (Jersey) Limited; known altogether as ‘Barchester’. It’s alleged that certain fees that have been charged contravene consumer protection laws.

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Supply of precast concrete drainage investigation update

First published by Author on July 25, 2019 in the following categories: Cartels Industry Investigations Latest and tagged with | | |

cma auction investigation

Here’s the latest in the investigation into the suspected cartel arrangements in the supply of precast concrete drainage sector.

The investigation being conducted by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) was launched way back in 2016. Since then, a number of steps have been taken, and admissions of participating in cartel behaviour have been made at the end of 2018.

The final penalty amounts have yet to be concluded and issued, but based on the most recent update from the CMA, we expect to be seeing more updates soon.

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Viagogo court case steps up

First published by Author on July 11, 2019 in the following categories: Advertising Industry Investigations Latest Pricing Selling Restrictions and tagged with | | | | | |

live event

The ongoing Viagogo court case between the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the secondary ticketing website is about to step up.

The CMA are reportedly moving ahead with contempt of court proceedings on the basis that they say Viagogo is still failing to adhere to a court order obtained earlier this year.

This is huge news, and it’s alarming to hear that the CMA considers that the ticketing resellers are still failing to comply with a court order. Following a market sector review, a number of firms changed their behaviours, but it appears that Viagogo isn’t fully complying.

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CMA anti-virus software investigation latest

First published by Author on July 04, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Pricing and tagged with | | | |

Anti-Virus

The CMA anti-virus software investigation was launched back in December 2018, and the consumer regulator has been looking into whether renewal practices are legally compliant.

This investigation was a part of the wider loyalty penalty super complaint. With both personal and business reliance on anti-virus software prevalent, this is a huge market sector where there’s a need to ensure that consumer law is always being adhered to.

In the most recent update, the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) has provided a little more insight into what they’re focusing on as part of their market review.

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Investment consultants investigation concludes

First published by Author on June 20, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Investigations and tagged with | | |

investigation into retail banking competition

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued a final order in the investment consultants investigation that’s been ongoing since 2017.

The final step in the reforms that the CMA has been pushing forward has been put in place with the aim or improving the sector on the whole. Clearer information is now to be provided for customers who can enjoy better knowledge about the value for money they can get. There are also greater incentives for pension scheme trustees to shop around for better deals.

The aim, of course, is to ensure that consumers can get best value for their money. The order made is legally-binding, and is designed to ensure that pension trustees make better decisions for the retirement assets they manage.

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Groundworks supplier investigation: the latest

First published by Author on June 06, 2019 in the following categories: Cartels Industry Price Fixing Price Hikes Pricing and tagged with | | | |

There’s an ongoing groundworks supplier investigation being conducted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), so here’s the latest.

The investigation surrounds suspicions of anti-competitive behaviour in the sector for the supply of groundworks products to the construction industry. The CMA’s investigation is looking into whether any of the key suppliers in the market are breaching important competition laws. If they are found to be acting unethically, they could face substantial fines.

The investigation has been going on for some time now, and a great deal of evidence has been collected and reviewed so far.

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Updates in the funeral market investigation

First published by Author on May 23, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Latest and tagged with | | | |

There has been a couple of updates in the ongoing funeral market investigation being carried out by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK.

We’ve been tracking this investigation for quite some time, and it’s one of particular importance given the sector and subject. There will always be a market for these kinds of services, and the market will likely continue to grow. As such, any concerns with regards to competition law is a matter that the CMA must look into in detail.

Since our previous article on the investigation, there has been a couple of updates.

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Provisional finding in the CMA roofing materials investigation

First published by Author on May 09, 2019 in the following categories: Cartels Investigations Latest Market Sharing Price Fixing Pricing and tagged with | | | | | |

cma construction

There’s been a provisional finding in the CMA roofing materials investigation that was launched in the summer of 2017, with three major suppliers alleged to be in a cartel.

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) believes that the three alleged cartel companies have been allocating customers, as well as information sharing and colluding on price. This type of behaviour usually only leads to one thing: bigger profits for the companies, and higher costs for the consumer.

An allegation of a cartel finding is incredibly serious, and the companies at the heart of this investigation could be issued significant fines that can run into the millions.

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Suspected anti-competitive agreements in the musical instruments sector

First published by Author on May 02, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Latest and tagged with | | |

guitar music MJ own

Regulators have opened investigations into the musical instruments sector on the basis that there may be anti-competitive agreements that can be detrimental to the consumer.

The investigation has been launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) who are the UK’s primary watchdog when it comes to enforcing healthy competition. Anti-competitive agreements that result in cartels, price fixing, and other forms of collusion can be damaging to the consumer. Profits can be inflated for the businesses, and the consumer can end up paying more; which is the opposite to what healthy competition should ensure.

It’s therefore within the public’s interests for suspected anti-competitive agreements to be thoroughly investigated. If the consumer is being ripped off, the companies involved in the behaviour must be punished.

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