Sat, Nov 21 2009

Toplofikatsiya Rousse fined 400 000 leva for аbuse of monopoly

Tue, Dec 16 2008 14:57 CET byNick Iliev 460 Views
The Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) has imposed two separate fines on Toplofikatsiya Rousse, for abuse of monopoly, as recorded in an official press release from the Commission, quoted by Dnevnik daily.

The two fines imposed are 300 000 leva and 100 000 leva and were levied following an investigation by the Energy Commission.

Toplofikatsiya Rousse was accused of trying to force its customers to sign a contract with guaranteed payment of consumed heating energy. Typically, under such a contract, owed bills can be taken directly out of the users' bank account.

In addition, in a separate contract, the company had attempted to offload the risk of non-payments, a practice the CPC said was "against the consumers' interest".

Moreover, Toplofikatsiya Rousse had refused to grant a contract to the heating accountant company Tehem Service, thereby impairing the company's ability to provide its services.
The actions of Toplofikatsiya Rousse were deemed monopolistic by the CPC which concluded that the company had illegally restricted consumers' freedom of choice.

The investigation - and subsequent fines - followed complaints from outraged consumers as well as an official letter submitted by Roni Termic Service.

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