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UK Consumer Group Launches Class Action Against Amazon Over Pricing Policies

By  |  August 18, 2025

The Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) announced on August 18 that it has filed an opt-out collective action with the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT). According to the statement, the case claims Amazon used its market dominance to stop independent sellers from offering lower prices on other platforms, including their own websites.

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    The action, brought on behalf of more than 45 million UK consumers, targets Amazon’s policies dating back to 2019. Per a statement from ACSO, these policies have allegedly prevented third-party sellers from offering better deals elsewhere, ensuring that buyers on Amazon’s UK marketplace have paid more than they otherwise would.

    Matthew Maxwell-Scott, founder and executive director of ACSO, said: “Millions of people in the UK make purchases on Amazon every day. Despite the company’s assurances that it is above all else ‘customer-obsessed’, we consider there are strong grounds to argue that UK consumers have paid higher prices because of Amazon’s pricing policies.” He added that collective proceedings would help consumers recover losses and challenge what the group sees as anti-competitive conduct.

    Related: Delaware Supreme Court Orders Amazon to Disclose Antitrust Records to Shareholder

    The proposed class covers anyone in the UK who bought from a third-party seller on Amazon between August 2019 and August 2025. ACSO has instructed law firm Stephenson Harwood, with partner Genevieve Quierin leading the case alongside counsel from Monckton Chambers and economic experts from The Brattle Group. In a statement, Quierin said Amazon “appears to have circumvented previous regulatory interventions” and continues to enforce policies that disadvantage UK consumers.

    An Amazon spokesperson responded, saying ACSO’s claim is “without merit and we’re confident that will become clear through the legal process. Amazon features offers that provide customers with low prices and fast delivery. In fact, according to independent analysis by Profitero, Amazon has maintained its position as the lowest-priced online retailer in the UK for the fifth consecutive year. We remain committed to supporting the 100,000 independent businesses that sell their products on our UK store, which generate billions of pounds in export sales every year.” 

    Amazon’s pricing practices have faced scrutiny internationally for more than a decade. Regulators in the UK, Germany, and Japan have all investigated similar concerns, and the company continues to face legal challenges over its approach to competition.

    Source: CDR News