The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced a new investigation into the online trading practices of eight UK companies, focusing on concerns around how online sales tactics may be misleading consumers.
Among the businesses named are Wayfair, Marks Electrical, and Appliances Direct. Other businesses are resellers of concert tickets and driving tests.
The CMA is investigating:
- whether time-limited sales at Wayfair ended when they said they would.
- whether Marks Electrical’s customers are being automatically opted in to purchasing additional services.
- whether Appliances Direct’s time-limited sales ended when they said they would and whether customers are being automatically opted in to purchasing additional services.
The CMA has stated that its objective is to ensure that digital retail environments remain fair, transparent, and compliant with UK consumer protection law. At this stage, no conclusions have been reached about whether any of the named companies have broken the law. The CMA will investigate and provide case updates in March 2026.
BHETA will continue to monitor developments closely and provide updates as the investigation progresses. Members with questions about compliant promotional practices or online presentation rules are encouraged to contact the BHETA team for guidance.
.jpg)
