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Big retailers face court over misleading discounts

The consumer-protection watchdog has said that it has launched proceedings against some nationwide retailers for breaking sales-pricing laws. 

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) adds that the retailers are due to appear before the courts in January 2025. 

The prosecutions involve retailers in the electrical, cosmetics, furniture, and clothing and footwear sectors. 

They are linked to pricing breaches that the CCPC identified in online sweeps conducted over the 2023-2024 winter sales season – including Black Friday and January sales. 

The watchdog says that several other traders have been interviewed under caution, and further prosecutions are expected to follow. 

‘Harm’ to competition 

CCPC chair Brian McHugh said that its inspections last year had identified some “significant and widespread” breaches of the law on pricing.

“Ultimately, misleading sale discounts harm consumers and harm competition. Businesses need to able to compete for consumers openly and honestly on price. 

“This Black Friday, the CCPC is calling on both consumers and business owners to report any suspected fake discounts or misleading pricing to the CCPC,” he stated.

The watchdog says that its consumer-protection officers will be inspecting the discounts on offer to Irish consumers this Black Friday to ensure that they are genuine.

Recent CCPC research found that less than one-third (30%) of consumers believed that discounts displayed by businesses were genuine.