Royal Mail preparing Supreme Court appeal over record £50m fine

Royal Mail preparing Supreme Court appeal over record £50m fine for alleged anti-competitive behaviour

Royal Mail is preparing a Supreme Court appeal over a record £50million fine for alleged anti-competitive behaviour. 

The huge penalty was imposed by regulator Ofcom in 2018 after a complaint by rival Whistl, then called TNT Post UK. 

Whistl had conducted trials of direct letter deliveries. Royal Mail then put up its charges for firms handling bulk business mail. The trials were suspended after a backer pulled its funding. 

Challenge: Royal Mail appealed against the fine to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, but this was rejected

Royal Mail appealed against the fine to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, but this was rejected. An appeal of that judgment was dismissed by the Court of Appeal earlier this summer. 

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: ‘We are seeking permission to appeal this judgment to the Supreme Court.’ 

Separately, Whistl filed a damages claim against Royal Mail in the High Court in late 2018. 

Royal Mail said: ‘Whistl’s High Court claim is on hold until after the completion of the appeal process.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk