UK: Entire payday lender industry referred to Competition Commission, given 12 weeks to shape-up
The payday lender market could face dark days ahead as a yearlong probe into the sector by the Office of Fair Trading has resulted in a strict 12-week deadline for lenders to change their business practices. The industry will also reportedly be referred to the Competition Commission. According to reports, the OFT found significant problems with how lenders compete with each other, among other issues. OFT chief executive Clive Maxwell said in a statement that the issues the OFT found in its review of the industry cause “misery and hardship for many borrowers.” None of the fifty leading lenders of the industry were singled-out by the OFT, though the authority did threaten to retract lending licenses if lenders do not shape-up in the next 12 weeks. Reports did not detail exactly which competitive issues were cause for concern for the OFT and reason for the authority to refer the industry to the Competition Commission.
Full Content: The Independent
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Redfin Settles $9.2M Commission Inflation Lawsuits
May 7, 2024 by
CPI
DOJ Supports Colorado’s Efforts to Block Kroger-Albertsons Merger
May 7, 2024 by
CPI
Japan Considers Regulation of AI Developers
May 7, 2024 by
CPI
European Commission Extends Decision Deadline for Ita-Lufthansa Merger
May 7, 2024 by
CPI
UK, US and Australia Sanction Senior Leader of LockBit Cybercrime Gang
May 7, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI