Milan, Sept. 26 (LaPresse) – “A very serious violation that has caused enormous economic damage to consumers.” This is the statement by Codacons commenting on the €936 million fine imposed by the Antitrust Authority on six oil companies. The association emphasizes that it is “sharpening its legal tools and considering a possible class action.”
“The anti-competitive agreement identified by the Authority led to unjustified fuel price increases harming a large number of people, with the aggravating factor that the price hikes at the pump were coincident across multiple brands, preventing consumers from benefiting from alternatives and lower prices, considering that the six sanctioned companies represent 90% of the Italian fuel market,” adds Codacons. According to the association, the Antitrust decision “now paves the way for possible compensation for all affected consumers: motorists who refueled at stations of any of the six sanctioned brands during the period of the violation, from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2023, and who have receipts or proof of payment (debit cards, credit cards, etc.), can act to assert their rights and obtain reimbursement for the overcharges resulting from the anti-competitive agreement.”
In this regard, Codacons “is evaluating the possibility of filing a proper class action against the companies involved, aimed at securing fair financial compensation for affected motorists,” the statement concludes.
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