50:
447:
In
September 2012, the OFT commenced an investigation into the hotel online booking sector. The complainant, a small online travel agent, Skoosh, claimed that the hotels it bought room bookings from were under pressure from other resellers to maintain minimum prices. On 31 July 2012, the OFT issued a
315:
In 2006, the OFT restructured in response to
Treasury proposals for splitting the department into separate consumer and competition regulators. The OFT argued that to protect consumers effectively, it had to be able to use both consumer law and competition law approaches in a holistic fashion. Moving
286:
The OFT worked under a structure arranged by markets rather than legislation with a
Services, Infrastructure and Public Markets group and a Goods and Consumer group. Officials specialising in the different legal and regulatory regimes worked closely together in each of these two groups. This enabled
311:
The results of the research, which were published, helped the OFT to assess what action, if any, needed to be taken to protect consumers' interests. They could recommend stronger enforcement, or a change in the regulations, or suggest an awareness raising campaign for consumers (but will not always
463:
In the OFT's provisional view the parties had infringed competition law. In
January 2014, the OFT accepted commitments proposed by the defendant parties in lieu of any fines. The OFT's Rasmussen acknowledged there was a chance the set up could lead to further monopoly, but he said the OFT would be
307:
Based on expanded powers granted under the
Enterprise Act 2002, the OFT explored how different market sectors operate, in order to help markets work well. It sometimes researched one particular market in detail or, for example, how codes of practice or professional rules operated across different
533:
According to the same report, in 2007 to 2008 the OFT estimated that its competition enforcement work led to direct savings to consumers worth £77m per year and that its market studies work had saved consumers £98 million in 2007 to 08; the OFT costs for these areas of work in the same year were
438:
The OFT had specific concerns over practices involving reference pricing, advertising, refunds, unfair terms, and the diligence of its interactions with merchants. Groupon engaged openly and constructively throughout the investigation and signed undertakings that it will change its practices to
266:
The majority of the OFT's work consisted of analysing markets, enforcing consumer and competition law, merger control, licensing and supervisory work (of consumer credit, estate agency, anti money-laundering supervision), advocacy, delivering information, education programmes and campaigns to
277:
Showing how competitive markets that work well are important for consumers, fair dealing businesses and economic performance; explaining its decisions transparently; promoting compliance by explaining to business what the law is and how the OFT will apply it; promoting consumer awareness and
351:
The credit card companies did not produce evidence of their actual costs to the OFT, instead insisting their charges are in line with clear policy and information provided to customers. Charges have been as much as £38 per item, which campaigners argue is well beyond the cost of sending a
390:
In March 2010, Consumer Focus submitted a super complaint to the OFT raising concerns that transferring cash ISAs were taking too long and there were arbitrary rules preventing transfers into some of the most attractive accounts and that interest rates were not sufficiently transparent.
290:
The OFT used consumer and competition enforcement, market studies and references, education and communication in appropriate combination. These market sector groups sat alongside other OFT groups, mergers, and cartels and criminal enforcement. The OFT was situated off Fleet Street, near
381:
In
September 2010, the OFT sent warnings to 129 firms after its review of debt management companies found widespread problems, with firms putting profits ahead of customer care. Since it issued that warning, 87 firms have surrendered their licenses.
394:
The OFT responded in June 2011, with a number of recommendations to ensure that transfers of cash ISAs work better and that there is greater transparency of interest rates. This included the following agreements from cash ISA provider to:
336:
companies. In its report, the OFT confirmed these charges were unlawful as they amounted to a penalty, rather than the actual losses suffered by the companies. It said it would be prepared to investigate any charge over £12 (£16 for
483:
In a "parting shot", one week prior to the transfer of the OFT's responsibilities to the CMA, the Office recommended that an investigation into market conditions in the public sector ICT market should be undertaken.
360:
In 2009, after customers complained to OFT about deceptive practices by two websites operated by a man in the state of
California that misrepresented themselves as being British, it coordinated actions with the U.S.
278:
confidence; coordinating effectively with enforcement partners locally, nationally and internationally, and advising government on how to achieve the most effective regime for competition and consumers.
319:
These officials are supported by a dedicated economics branch also including statisticians and financial analysts (the Office of the Chief
Economist), a legal specialist, and a policy advisory branch.
515:
threatened oil companies with an OFT investigation unless lower oil prices were passed to consumers; this was despite several OFT investigations in the past giving the industry a clean bill of health.
435:, to change some of its trading practices following an OFT investigation. The investigation found widespread examples of Groupon's practices that breached consumer protection regulations.
1182:
344:
The OFT said it would be up to a court to determine such an amount based on the established legal precedent that the only recoverable cost would be actual costs incurred, i.e.,
965:
423:
medicines. The OFT found that
Reckitt Benckiser abused its dominant position by withdrawing and de-listing Gaviscon Original Liquid from the NHS prescription channel in 2005.
812:
1006:
270:
The OFT investigated markets to see whether they were working well for consumers and customers. Where appropriate, studies led to market investigation references to the
1063:
675:
501:
1108:
492:
The OFT was criticized for being ineffective and for many of its investigations leading to no action, in contrast to the more vigorous approach of United States (
1187:
652:
493:
1212:
1172:
838:
935:
1202:
1192:
763:
1134:
523:
issued a report in March 2009 on the OFT's competition enforcement work which indicated progress in 7 out of 10 objectives, but also concluded:
312:
recommend intervention and when this is the case, will ensure that any non intervention decision is well informed and open to public scrutiny).
879:
230:
563:
287:
the OFT to look more easily at whole markets and to use all the tools available to improve them if they were not operating effectively.
1197:
1207:
234:
542:
The following bodies and companies were designated by the
Secretary of State as being able to bring a super-complaint to the OFT:
1014:
271:
733:
1138:
520:
1067:
623:
187:
144:
92:
57:
1112:
785:
24:
1177:
238:
100:
1167:
20:
633:
528:...So whilst the OFT has improved the value for money it provides, there remains scope for further improvement.
402:
Provide personalised interest rate information on cash ISA statements delivered in electronic and/or paper form
1135:"The Office of Fair Trading: Enforcing competition in markets - Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General"
943:
274:, to enforce action, consumer awareness campaigns or to recommendations to government, which were published.
598:
618:
1142:
764:"FTC Settlement Bans Online U.S. Electronics Retailer from Deceiving Consumers with Foreign Website Names"
472:
249:
233:(BIS) announced reforms to the consumer protection and competition regimes. Under the provisions of the
552:
366:
852:
431:
In March 2012, the OFT accepted undertakings from "daily deals" company MyCityDeal, which trades as
880:"OFT issues Statement of Objections against Booking.com, Expedia and Intercontinental Hotels Group"
613:
603:
362:
457:
416:
211:
49:
569:
242:
341:
credit card accounts) indicating that £12 would not be a "fair and acceptable charge" itself.
653:"Press Release: Chief Executive Designate appointed to the Competition and Markets Authority"
593:
546:
195:
415:£10.2 million after it found that it had abused its dominant position in the market for the
399:
Comply with new industry guidelines to complete end to end transfers within 15 working days
296:
210:. The intention was for the OFT to make markets work well for consumers, ensuring vigorous
19:
This article is about the former agency of the United Kingdom. For the Maltese agency, see
316:
away from division by legislative area, the OFT created divisions based on market sector.
241:(CMA) was established on 1 April 2014, combining many of the functions of the OFT and the
8:
292:
223:
207:
199:
214:
between fair-dealing businesses and prohibiting unfair practices such as rogue trading,
345:
261:
968:, Walker Morris, published 16 April 2014, archived 15 May 2021, accessed 9 August 2021
887:
832:
741:
412:
373:
required the companies to end those practices and represent their location honestly.
1064:"The Office of Fair Trading - Progress Report on Maintaining Competition in Markets"
588:
203:
979:
910:
628:
575:
497:
370:
191:
113:
36:
1161:
332:
In May 2006, the OFT investigated the charges being imposed on customers of
857:
706:
512:
534:
approximately £26 million of its £78 million expenditure in 2007 to 208.
511:
Oil companies retail sales / petrol – in October 2008, UK Prime Minister
449:
338:
333:
504:) regulators. Criticism has been levied, among others, in the cases of:
248:
Regulation of the consumer credit sector passed from the OFT to the new
468:
786:"Groupon vows to offer 'honest and accurate' deals, following OFT rap"
1037:
420:
966:
Parting shot from OFT regarding supply of ICT to the public sector
766:(Press release). Washington. Federal Trade Commission. 9 June 2011
734:"Press releases 2006 - Statement on bank credit card default fees"
608:
557:
453:
432:
1038:"Brown: Petrol firms must lower fuel prices or face OFT inquiry"
655:. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. 8 January 2013
936:"Competition Appeal Tribunal - 1226/2/12/14 Skyscanner Limited"
707:"TQ3181 : Press Complaints Commission in Salisbury Square"
219:
1183:
Defunct departments of the Government of the United Kingdom
1042:
Oil Depletion Analysis Centre (ODAC) (from The Independent)
215:
471:, challenged the OFT's decision with the United Kingdom's
1128:
756:
123:
Fleetbank House, 2–6 Salisbury Square, London, EC4Y 8JX
731:
676:"OFT instructed Wonga to make changes to its business"
494:
United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division
222:. Its role was modified and its powers changed by the
1066:. National Audit Office. 5 March 2009. Archived from
853:"Online hotel bookings to be probed for price-fixing"
478:
813:"Investigation into the hotel online booking sector"
165:
570:
The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
302:
1007:"FAIR TRADING REMAINS TOOTHLESS IN FACE OF TESCO"
564:The General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland
1159:
837:: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
1188:Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
231:Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
977:
1213:2014 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
1173:Consumer organisations in the United Kingdom
1035:
819:. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014
376:
704:
467:In March 2014, the price comparison site,
1203:1973 establishments in the United Kingdom
1193:Organisations based in the City of London
235:Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013
908:
740:. Office of Fair Trading. Archived from
385:
16:British government department, 1973–2014
1004:
442:
1160:
1044:. Oil Depletion Analysis Centre (ODAC)
810:
778:
732:Office of Fair Trading (18 May 2006).
327:
673:
624:Independent school fee fixing scandal
419:(NHS) supply of alginate and antacid
355:
188:non-ministerial government department
145:Non-ministerial government department
93:Non-ministerial government department
58:Non-ministerial government department
911:"OFT probe into hotel prices closes"
909:Stephens, Pippa (23 December 2017).
464:monitoring movements in the market.
406:
537:
502:Directorate-General for Competition
13:
1106:
884:webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
817:webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
479:Supply of ICT to the public sector
308:markets in a range of businesses.
25:Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading
23:. For the Isle of Man agency, see
14:
1224:
1198:Organizations established in 1973
1122:
547:The Campaign for Real Ale Limited
239:Competition and Markets Authority
206:, acting as the United Kingdom's
101:Competition and Markets Authority
1208:Regulators of the United Kingdom
1036:Andrew Grice (17 October 2008).
1013:. Nick Harvey MP. Archived from
811:George, Sara (31 January 2014).
685:– via www.telegraph.co.uk.
674:Quinn, James (5 November 2013).
448:Statement of Objections against
303:Markets and Policies Initiatives
48:
1100:
1091:
1082:
1056:
1029:
998:
971:
958:
928:
902:
872:
21:Office for Fair Trading (Malta)
1129:Office of Fair Trading website
978:Europe Direct (31 July 2012).
964:Feaster-Gee, T., Kilduff, D.,
886:. 31 July 2012. Archived from
845:
804:
725:
713:. Geograph Britain and Ireland
698:
689:
667:
645:
634:UK default charges controversy
553:The Consumer Council for Water
153:Clive Maxwell, Chief Executive
1:
705:Basher Eyre (15 April 2008).
639:
578:(trading as "Consumer Focus")
576:The National Consumer Council
487:
411:In April 2011, the OFT fined
619:Financial Services Authority
281:
7:
1005:Unknown (23 October 2008).
582:
473:Competition Appeal Tribunal
250:Financial Conduct Authority
139:£55.843 million (2012–2013)
10:
1229:
558:The Consumers' Association
426:
259:
18:
599:Conseil de la Concurrence
377:Debt management companies
160:
143:
135:
127:
119:
109:
90:
82:
64:
56:
47:
1178:Consumer rights agencies
614:Federal Trade Commission
604:Consumer Credit Act 1974
363:Federal Trade Commission
322:
267:business and consumers.
695:OFT Annual Plan 2011-12
458:Intercontinental Hotels
417:National Health Service
255:
252:(FCA) from April 2014.
1168:Competition regulators
1141:. 2005. Archived from
1111:. BERR. Archived from
738:Office of Fair Trading
609:Consumers' Association
272:Competition Commission
245:and superseding both.
243:Competition Commission
198:, which enforced both
180:Office of Fair Trading
70:; 51 years ago
68:21 September 1973
40:
33:Office of Fair Trading
1139:National Audit Office
1088:page 13 of the report
940:www.catribunal.org.uk
594:Competition regulator
560:(trading as "Which?")
521:National Audit Office
439:comply with the law.
386:Transfer of cash ISAs
367:an enforcement action
352:computerised letter.
196:Fair Trading Act 1973
194:, established by the
1115:on 22 November 2008.
443:Hotel online booking
369:. Two years later a
41:Swyddfa Fasnachu Teg
984:European Commission
744:on 3 September 2009
328:Credit card charges
293:Blackfriars station
224:Enterprise Act 2002
200:consumer protection
44:
1109:"Super-Complaints"
356:Deceptive websites
346:liquidated damages
262:UK competition law
208:economic regulator
32:
1017:on 3 January 2013
946:on 10 August 2017
413:Reckitt Benckiser
407:Reckitt Benckiser
297:St Bride's Church
295:. It was next to
176:
175:
43:
1220:
1154:
1152:
1150:
1145:on 16 March 2012
1117:
1116:
1104:
1098:
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1089:
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1080:
1079:
1077:
1075:
1070:on 7 August 2011
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942:. Archived from
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589:Bundeskartellamt
538:Super complaints
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78:
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52:
45:
35:
31:
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1107:Cawley, Marie.
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986:. Europe Direct
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963:
959:
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947:
934:
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919:
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893:
891:
890:on 2 April 2014
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829:
822:
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809:
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795:
793:
792:. 16 March 2012
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204:competition law
164:
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105:
74:
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1123:External links
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1028:
1011:Nick Harvey MP
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631:
629:Merger control
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498:European Union
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371:consent decree
365:, which began
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192:United Kingdom
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1008:
1001:
985:
981:
980:"Competition"
974:
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931:
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905:
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136:Annual budget
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1147:. Retrieved
1143:the original
1113:the original
1102:
1093:
1084:
1072:. Retrieved
1068:the original
1058:
1046:. Retrieved
1041:
1031:
1019:. Retrieved
1015:the original
1010:
1000:
988:. Retrieved
983:
973:
960:
948:. Retrieved
944:the original
939:
930:
918:. Retrieved
914:
904:
892:. Retrieved
888:the original
883:
874:
862:. Retrieved
858:The Register
856:
847:
821:. Retrieved
816:
806:
794:. Retrieved
790:The Guardian
789:
780:
768:. Retrieved
758:
746:. Retrieved
742:the original
737:
727:
715:. Retrieved
710:
700:
691:
679:. Retrieved
669:
657:. Retrieved
647:
541:
532:
527:
518:
513:Gordon Brown
508:Supermarkets
491:
482:
466:
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446:
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183:
179:
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120:Headquarters
110:Jurisdiction
91:Superseding
86:1 April 2014
29:
950:23 December
920:23 December
894:23 December
864:23 December
823:23 December
796:11 February
681:23 December
450:Booking.com
334:credit card
212:competition
1162:Categories
640:References
488:Reputation
469:Skyscanner
260:See also:
75:1973-09-21
1074:11 August
1048:26 August
1021:26 August
990:26 August
748:26 August
717:26 August
421:heartburn
282:Structure
147:executive
128:Employees
83:Dissolved
915:BBC News
833:cite web
711:Geograph
659:27 March
583:See also
186:) was a
60:overview
1149:13 June
770:5 March
572:(NACAB)
566:(GCCNI)
549:(CAMRA)
454:Expedia
433:Groupon
427:Groupon
220:cartels
190:of the
161:Website
73: (
1097:page 5
496:) and
456:, and
237:, the
218:, and
65:Formed
323:Cases
216:scams
37:Welsh
1151:2011
1076:2009
1050:2012
1023:2012
992:2012
952:2017
922:2017
896:2017
866:2017
839:link
825:2017
798:2018
772:2015
750:2012
719:2012
683:2017
661:2013
519:The
256:Role
229:The
202:and
178:The
168:.gov
339:Egg
184:OFT
170:.uk
166:oft
131:579
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