The CCI found that TAI had decided in March 2021 that members would not price their services below a common benchmark.
It also found that the Association monitored quotations and threatened action against trustees that did not adhere to the prescribed rates.
Significantly, the Commission noted that the Association’s members had previously discussed whether common pricing could amount to cartelisation.
“The fact that in the meeting dated 06.06.2019, it was discussed whether the fixing of pricing could be construed as cartelisation under the Act, in fact shows that OP-1 and its members were also aware of the provisions of the Act, and despite there being concerns of contravention of those provisions, they went ahead with the same.”
The CCI found that TAI had decided in March 2021 that members would not price their services below a common benchmark. It also found that the Association monitored quotations and threatened action against trustees that did not adhere to the prescribed rates.
Significantly, the Commission noted that the Association’s members had previously discussed whether common pricing could amount to cartelisation.
“The fact that in the meeting dated 06.06.2019, it was discussed whether the fixing of pricing could be construed as cartelisation under the Act, in fact shows that OP-1 and its members were also aware of the provisions of the Act, and despite there being concerns of contravention of those provisions, they went ahead with the same.”
