OFT current cases
This page lists all current OFT competition and consumer enforcement cases that are in the public domain, and all markets work that the OFT is currently conducting.
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Current competition enforcement cases
This section lists ongoing investigations which have been formally opened by the OFT under Chapter I or Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998, and/or Article 101 or 102 of the Treaty for the Functioning of the European Union.
Under section 25 of the Competition Act 1998, the OFT may open a formal investigation into the conduct of a party or parties where it has reasonable grounds for suspecting that competition law has been breached. Once a case is opened, the OFT undertakes a full investigation, in accordance with its procedural guidance, to determine whether it considers the law has been infringed.
Reference made below to any case or party cannot be taken to indicate that the OFT considers that party has in fact acted unlawfully.
The information that the OFT considers it appropriate to disclose publicly may vary from case to case, and over time.
See full OFT briefing note for further information.
Any media enquiries should be directed to a member of our Press Office.
| Title, case reference and sector | Parties | Relevant legislation and case type | Suspected infringement | Start date | Last milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mastercard / VISA MIFs
Case Ref: CE/6345/05CE/4500/04 Sector : Finance and insurance activities |
Mastercard / Maestro VISA |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 1 |
Restrictive agreements or concerted practices | Dec 2005 and May 2004 | May 2012 |
|
Bunker fuels
Case Ref: CE/9278/10 Sector : Transport and storage |
CH Jones Ltd trading as Keyfuels |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 2 |
Abuse of dominance | Apr 2010 | Oct 2011 |
|
Investigation into the distribution of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles (CA98)
Case Ref: CE/9161/09 Sector : Commercial vehicles |
Mercedes-Benz UK Limited, its parent Daimler UK Limited and its ultimate parent Daimler AG; Ciceley Commercials Limited and its ultimate parent Ciceley Limited; Enza Motors Limited, its parent Enza Holdings Limited and its ultimate parent Enza Group Limited; H & L Garages Limited and its parent Dusted Powder Limited; Northside Truck & Van Limited and its ultimate parent S.A.H. Limited; Road Range Limited |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 1 |
Restrictive agreements or concerted practices | Jan 2010 | Jun 2012 |
|
Hotel online booking case
Case Ref: CE/9320/10 Sector : Hotels and similar accommodation |
Booking.com B.V. ('Booking.com') and its ultimate parent company Priceline.com Incorporated ('Priceline'); Expedia, Inc ('Expedia'); InterContinental Hotels Group plc ('IHG');and Hotel Inter-Continental London Limited ('ICL') |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 1 |
Restrictive agreements or concerted practices | Sep 2010 | 31 Jul 2012 |
|
Transport sector case
Case Ref: CE/9416/10 Sector : Transport |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 1 |
Restrictive agreements or concerted practices | Dec 2010 | Jan 2012 | |
|
Access control and alarm systems case
Case Ref: CE/9248-10 Sector : Supply and installation of certain access control and alarm systems (not including burglar alarms) |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 1 |
Restrictive agreements or concerted practices | April 2011 | Oct 2012 | |
|
Commercial electronic platform services case
Case Ref: CE/9496-11 Sector : Certain commercial electronic platform services |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 2 |
Abuse of dominance | Jun 2011 | Sep 2012 | |
|
Agreements in the pharmaceutical sector
Case Ref: CE/9531-11 Sector : Pharmaceuticals |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 1 |
Restrictive agreements or concerted practices | Aug 2011 | Jan 2012 | |
|
Leisure goods case
Case Ref: CE/9610-12 Sector : Leisure goods |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 1 |
Restrictive agreements or concerted practices | Apr 2012 | Jul 2012 | |
|
Leisure goods case
Case Ref: CE/9647/12 Sector : Leisure goods |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 1 |
Restrictive agreements or concerted practices | Jul 2012 | Jul 2012 | |
|
Local bus markets case
Case Ref: CE/9646/12 Sector : Local bus markets |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 2 |
Abuse of dominance | Jun 2012 | Aug 2012 | |
|
Mobility aids sector case
Case Ref: CE/9578-12 Sector : Mobility aids |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 1 & Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union |
Restrictive agreements or concerted practices | Apr 2012 | Jul 2012 | |
|
Online retail sector case
Case Ref: CE/9692/12 Sector : Online retail |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 1 |
Restrictive agreements or concerted practices | Oct 2012 | Oct 2012 | |
|
Investigation into the distribution of road fuels in parts of Scotland
Case Ref: MP-SIP/0034/ Sector : Distribution of road fuels in parts of Scotland |
GB Oils Limited |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 2 |
Abuse of dominance | Jan 2013 | Jan 2013 |
|
Provision of training services to the construction industry
Case Ref: CE/9726/12 Sector : Training services to the construction industry |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: CA98 Ch 1 |
Restrictive agreements or concerted practices | Jan 2013 | Jan 2013 |
| Title, case reference and sector | Parties | Relevant legislation and case type | Suspected infringement | Start date | Last milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Investigation into business practices in the energy efficiency sector
Case Ref: CE9706-12 Sector : |
Case type:
Relevant Legislation: |
October 2012 | |||
|
Investigation into prize draw promoters
Case Ref: CRE-E/16752 Sector : Retail |
Purely Creative Ltd, Strike Lucky Games Ltd, McIntyre & Dodd Marketing Ltd, The Winners Club Ltd |
Case type:
Consumer Enforcement case
Relevant Legislation: Enterprize Act 2002, Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 |
Misleading prize draws in breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) | April 2008 | 29 July 2011 |
|
Prosecution of a number of individuals involved in an alleged unlawful pyramid scheme
Case Ref: CE9062/08 Sector : Retail |
Case type:
Consumer Enforcement case
Relevant Legislation: Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading regulations 2008 |
Suspected promotion and operation of an unlawful pyramid scheme. | Sep 2009 | Apr 2012 | |
|
Investigation into Olympic ticket selling to consumers
Case Ref: CRE-E/26921 Sector : Ticket sales |
Andreas Gyrre, Euroteam AS, Uncus AS, Ticket and Travel AS |
Case type:
Consumer enforcement case
Relevant Legislation: Enterprise Act 2002, Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, UTCCRs 1999 |
Unlawful offering for sale and selling tickets to the London Olympic Games | Jun 2012 | |
|
Investigation into suspected fraud in property sales
Case Ref: CRE/9602/12 Sector : Property |
Francis Kelly, Samantha Jayne Kelly, Andrew Stephen Butts |
Case type:
Consumer Enforcement case
Relevant Legislation: Fraud Act 2006 |
Suspected fraud in property sales | Sep 2012 | 1 Oct 2012 |
|
Investigation into health and fitness clubs contracts
Case Ref: MP-G&C/0004 Sector : Health and fitness |
Due to Enterprise Act 2002 disclosure restrictions we are unable to name the parties at this stage. |
Case type:
Consumer Enforcement investigation
Relevant Legislation: Enterprise Act 2002, Consumer protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, UTCCRs 1999 |
Suspected recommendation and use of unfair contract terms | January 2012 | |
|
Retirement homes investigation into exit fees
Case Ref: Sector : |
Industry wide investigation involving 26 retirement home firms |
Case type:
Enterprise Act 2002, UTCCRs 1999
Relevant Legislation: UTCCRs 1999 |
Sep 2009 | 8 January 2013 |
Markets and other work
This section lists current markets work. Recently completed work, including market studies can be viewed by year below the table.
| Markets work case title | Sector | Start date |
|---|---|---|
| Call for information on the UK petrol and diesel fuels sector | UK petrol and diesel sector | Sep 2012 |
| Energy efficiency | Domestic Energy Efficiency | Apr 2012 |
| Review of personal current accounts in the UK | Banking | Jul 2012 |
| Review of undertakings given by Yell Group plc regarding Classified Directory Advertising Services | Feb 2012 |
Select completed market work cases by year
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