Expert legal advice from The Competition Lawyers

Tag: loyalty penalties

Loyalty penalty investigation: the latest

First published by Author on September 04, 2019 in the following categories: Investigations Loyalty Penalties Pricing and tagged with | | | |

Complaints

There has been an update about some of the positive steps that have been taken in the wake of the huge loyalty penalty investigation, often referred to as a “super complaint”.

A “super complaint” is a complaint that’s usually submitted by a consumer body on behalf of a number of people who have the same complaint against sometimes several companies, and sometimes across more than one sector. The loyalty penalty super complaint stemmed from the Citizens Advice Bureau who had raised concerns over customers paying more for goods and services for sticking with the same suppliers.

This one has covered notable areas that include insurance, mortgages, bank accounts, broadband services and mobile services.

read more


End of contract alerts to be initiated in the UK

First published by Author on May 15, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Latest Pricing and tagged with | |

investigation into retail banking competition

We welcome the move to enforce end of contract alerts, which is set to put the consumer firmly back behind the steering wheel when it comes to their contracts for key services.

From February 2020, broadband, phone and TV companies will have to notify their customers when they’re close to the expiry date of their contract. They’ll also have to provide information about pricing and better deals they can offer, as well as clearer information about how to cancel.

The move is aimed to stop consumers aimlessly walking into new contracts and not knowing when their current term has elapsed. This ties in with  the loyalty penalty super complaint, and is designed to make sure the consumer is put first.

read more


Loyalty penalty CMA investigation concludes

First published by Author on December 21, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Price Hikes Pricing and tagged with | | | | |

car rental sites

The massive loyalty penalty CMA investigation – deemed a ‘super complaint’ – has resulted in a set of reforms to stop the issue affecting people.

The investigation found “damaging practices by firms, which exploit unsuspecting customers”. This issue is estimated to equate to a cost to the consumer in the region of £4bn per year. There are thought to be millions of people affected by loyalty penalties.

The loyalty penalty CMA investigation looked at five markets: savings; insurance; mortgages; mobile phone contracts; and broadband. New regulatory rules are set to be introduced to stamp out the loyalty penalty endemic.

read more


The loyalty penalty super complaint

First published by Author on October 26, 2018 in the following categories: Compensation Claims Industry Latest and tagged with

car rental sites

A loyalty penalty super complaint has been initiated, which is being investigated by UK’s competition regulators, the CMA.

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) are looking into the issue. A super complaint is a complaint usually made by a consumer body where a large number of consumers may be affected by the same issue. The complaint aims to ensure that consumers are always getting a fair deal instead of being ripped off.

The loyalty penalty super complaint relates to the mobile phone, broadband, savings accounts, mortgages and household insurance markets.

read more