• The President of UOKiK, Tomasz Chróstny, initiated proceedings against Fellowes Polska.
• For many years, the company probably have been imposing office equipment prices on shops.

​Fellowes Polska is an authorized distributor of Fellowes products - a producer of paper shredders, laminates, binding machines, etc. UOKiK conducted a search at the company's premises whereby it obtained evidence of the possibility of concluding a competition restricting agreement, including price fixing.

“I have initiated proceedings on price fixing against Fellowes Polska. We possess evidence that even since 2011 the undertaking has been imposing minimum online resale prices of office equipment on its counterparties. This practice means that both consumers and undertakings might have paid more for Fellowes office equipment than in the case of fair competition,” says the President of UOKiK, Tomasz Chróstny.

The documents obtained by UOKiK also show that apart from price fixing, the company probably has disciplined the sellers who wanted to sell its products cheaper, by declaring to deprive them of the discounts granted.

Price-fixing arrangements are one of the most serious violations of competition rules. Their effect is that consumers cannot buy products cheaper than at predetermined prices. According to the law, each seller should set prices on its own, based on economic reasoning. Involvement in a competition restricting agreement is punishable by a fine of up to 10 percent of the undertakings’ turnover.

Severe sanctions can be avoided by taking advantage of the leniency program. It gives the entrepreneur as well as managers involved in an illegal agreement a chance to turn state’s evidence. This allows to completely avoid or get a reduced fine. The programme is available to those who provide evidence or information of an illegal agreement and agree to co-operate with UOKiK. We encourage entrepreneurs and managers interested in the leniency programme to contact UOKiK. By calling +48 22 55 60 555, you will be able to talk to UOKiK lawyers, who will answer all of your questions, also anonymous ones, related to leniency applications.

An additional reduction in fine is available to an illegal agreement participant if the undertaking voluntarily submits to financial sanction.

If you are aware of any illicit agreements at your former or present workplace, please report them to UOKiK. The Authority runs a programme of acquiring information from anonymous whistle-blowers. Go to https://konkurencja.uokik.gov.pl/sygnalista/ and fill out a simple form. Our system guarantees that your identity will not be disclosed.

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone +48 695 902 088, +48 22 55 60 246
E-mail: [SCODE]Yml1cm9wcmFzb3dlQHVva2lrLmdvdi5wbA==[ECODE]
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL