Consumer watchdog groups have opened a new market dominance action against Amazon - the fourth currently in play against the web giant at the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal. The Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO), founded in 2019 to represent consumer interests in the civil justice system, said it has applied for a collective proceedings order in the CAT on behalf of more than 45 million people who bought products on Amazon over the past six years.
Amazon already faces three class actions in the CAT, on behalf of nearly 50 million 'opt-out' claimants. Last month the tribunal certified a case brought on behalf of 200,000 retailers claiming that Amazon abused its market dominance.
The ACSO case alleges that Amazon’s policy of not allowing third-party sellers to offer lower prices for their products elsewhere on the internet has allowed it to charge higher fees, resulting in higher prices. International firm Stephenson Harwood is acting in the claim.
Stephenson Harwood partner Genevieve Quierin said: 'Amazon appears to have circumvented previous regulatory interventions targeting its pricing policies and is now implementing policies which we contend are anti-competitive, to the detriment of UK consumers. We are grateful that ACSO has instructed Stephenson Harwood, and we look forward to securing compensation for the millions of consumers who have been affected by Amazon’s alleged anti-competitive conduct.'
In a statement, Amazon said: 'This 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. 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.'
A certification hearing has yet to be listed at the CAT.
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