Amazon is facing a multibillion-pound legal challenge in the UK for allegedly inflating prices for British consumers. The Association of Consumer Support Organisations is seeking to represent 45 million customers, claiming that Amazon limited competition by preventing independent sellers from offering lower prices. If successful, this collective action could automatically entitle many consumers to refunds. Similar cases have arisen abroad, highlighting the risk of mass litigation for multinational firms, particularly since reforms in the UK's Consumer Rights Act 2015 have encouraged these types of legal actions.
Matthew Maxwell-Scott, founder and executive director of ACSO, stated: "Millions of people in the UK make purchases on Amazon every day. Despite the company's assurances that it is above all else 'customer-obsessed', we consider there are strong grounds to argue that UK consumers have paid higher prices because of Amazon's pricing policies. This action will ensure that consumers can obtain redress for the considerable losses they have suffered."
The lawsuit echoes long-running battles between Amazon and regulators abroad. In the US, the Federal Trade Commission filed a case in 2023 claiming Amazon used its "monopoly power to inflate prices" by penalising sellers who offered discounts elsewhere.
If successful, the "opt-out" claim could see millions of Britons automatically entitled to refunds, without having to join the action individually.
The move underlines the growing prevalence of US-style class actions in Britain since reforms under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Collective cases have become a mounting risk for multinational corporations.
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