Eight companies are under investigation due to concerns about their online pricing practices, with an additional 100 businesses expected to receive warnings. The firms being scrutinized include StubHub, Viagogo, AA Driving School, BSM Driving School, Gold’s Gym, Wayfair, Appliances Direct, and Marks Electrical.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is conducting these investigations focusing on the presentation of fees online, potential misleading time-limited offers, and the automatic opt-in for optional charges. Specific issues being looked into include additional charges by StubHub and Viagogo for ticket purchases, the presentation of fees by AA Driving School and BSM Driving School on their websites, the handling of one-off joining fees by Gold’s Gym, time-limited sales by Wayfair, default opt-ins by Marks Electrical, and the use of time-limited sales and default opt-ins by Appliances Direct.
The CMA emphasized that no final decisions have been made yet but mentioned its suspicions of potential breaches of consumer law. This initiative marks the first instances of using the CMA’s new consumer protection powers. Additionally, the CMA is reaching out to 100 other businesses to address concerns regarding their use of extra fees and sales tactics.
CMA’s chief executive, Sarah Cardell, stressed the importance of ensuring consumers can shop online confidently, with clear and genuine pricing and sales. The CMA aims to protect consumers from misleading practices and pressure selling, promising swift action against any businesses found in violation of consumer law. Both the AA Driving School and Viagogo have responded, expressing readiness to cooperate with the investigations.
The Mirror has reached out to Gold’s Gym, Wayfair, Marks Electrical, and Appliances Direct for comments. It is noted that BSM Driving School is owned by the AA, while Viagogo and StubHub share the same parent company.