A PYMNTS Company

UK: Online retailer hit with six-figure fine for participation in online cartel

By  |  August 16, 2016

The Competition and Markets Authority fined Birmingham-based Trod, trading as Buy 4 Less, Buy For Less and Buy-For-Less-Online, £163,371 for breaching UK competition laws that prohibit agreements, practices and conduct that have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition and which may affect trade within the UK.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The CMA’s investigation found that Trod had agreed with another UK business, GB Posters, that they would “not undercut each other’s prices for posters and frames sold on Amazon’s UK website” for a period of more than four years. GB Posters did not receive a fine for its participation in the cartel as it had reported the wrongdoing to the CMA and received immunity under the CMA’s leniency programme. Trod also benefited from a reduction of 20% in its fine under the leniency programme after it admitted to the breach and cooperated with the regulator’s investigation.

    We’d love to be your preferred source for news.

    Please add us to your preferred sources list so our news, data and interviews show up in your feed. Thanks!

    Add as Preferred Source

    The CMA said last month that Trod and GB Posters had engaged in cartel activity “by using automated repricing software which the parties each configured”.

    Full Content: Out-Law

    Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.