Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
Shipping Cartel Inflated Vehicle Prices Class Action Lawsuit Overview:
- Who: A representative of millions of UK drivers is suing five of the world’s largest shipping companies.
- Why: The representative alleges 17 million drivers are owed compensation after the shipping companies formed a cartel, driving up shipping costs for their cars.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in the UK.
Millions of UK drivers could get £60 compensation if a new class action lawsuit wins in court.
On Nov. 29, a three-day hearing began at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London to decide whether a class action lawsuit alleging drivers fell victim to a shipping cartel can proceed, the Evening Standard reports.
The class action lawsuit seeks to compensate 17 million drivers of Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Peugeot, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, Citroen and Renault cars who bought their new vehicle between 2005 and 2015.
It alleges that five of the world’s largest shipping companies conspired to set up cartels to inflate charges for shipping during a nine-year period.
If found in breach of competition laws, the companies may have to pay out £150 million to car buyers. Motorists could be due a refund of around £60 per vehicle leased or bought, The Sun reports.
Consumers Have Not Received Payout in Cartel Class action
The bosses of the shipping companies have already admitted to European Commission officials that the cartels existed.
That led to a regulatory fine of nearly 400 million euros (£340 million); however, consumers have not received their payout.
Other investigations into the cartels in Australia, China, Japan, United States, Brazil and South Africa have also seen fines of more than £591 million charged to the companies.
Plaintiff Mark McLaren—formerly of consumer watchdog Which?— is bringing the class action lawsuit on behalf of drivers.
“I have spent much of my career working in consumer protection and I strongly believe that compensation should be paid when consumers are harmed by such deliberate, unlawful conduct,” he told the Evening Standard.
The five defendants are shipping companies MOL, “K” Line, NYK, WWL/EUKOR and CSAV. If the lawsuit gets the green light this week, it will proceed to trial.
Meanwhile, the UK is facing a twin gas and petrol shortage. Here’s what you need to know ahead of a gas crisis that is predicted to get worse before it gets better.
Do you own one of the vehicles impacted by the shipping cartel? Let us know your thoughts on this class action lawsuit in the comments!
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
- Former Financial Ombudsman Gets Historic First With Certification of Mastercard Interchange Fee Class Action Lawsuit
- Recall Check: Aldi, Asada, Tesco, Others Recall Cold and Flu Capsules for Incorrect Dose Amount for Children
- ALDI Recalls Baby Carrier, Says ‘Stop Using Product Immediately’
- Google Dodges £3.2B iPhone Tracking Class Action Lawsuit, Leaving Consumers Disappointed
