18th Jun 2026 11:49
Marks Electrical Group PLC - Leicester, England-based online electrical retailer - Agrees to pay a GBP720,000 penalty and consumer redress totalling about GBP600,000 following an investigation by the UK Competition & Markets Authority. PA reports that the consumer redress will comprise an average of GBP15 each for nearly 40,000 customers. Notes that the CMA's probe found that starting April last year, Marks Electrical charged the customers for its 'Recycle Old Appliance' and/or 'Unwrap & Recycle Packaging' services automatically, and without their express agreement. "The law is absolutely clear that automatically opting customers into extra charges is never okay," comments Emma Cochrane, the CMA's executive director of consumer protection, quoted by PA. Marks Electrical notes that the CMA's final infringement notice imposed a GBP1.2 million fine, but this was reduced to GBP700,000 following the application of a maximum available settlement discount. Marks Electrical will use its existing cash resources to pay, and reports a cash balance of GBP4.4 million as of March 31, which will be treated for accounting purposes as an "exceptional item". Read More
