Royal Mail Bulk Mail hearing set for March 2025
The Competition Appeal Tribunal published an order yesterday directing that a Collective Proceedings Order hearing be held on 3 March 2025 regarding the proposed claim brought by Bulk Mail Claim Ltd against International Distribution Services.
A spokesperson at Royal Mail stated: “We consider the claim by Bulk Mail Claim Ltd to be without merit and we will defend it robustly.”
At the CPO hearing the Tribunal will decide whether the claim can proceed to trial.
The proposed claim follows on from Ofcom’s finding in 2018 that during 2014 Royal Mail engaged in conduct that affected competition in the market for the delivery of bulk mail and abused its dominant position, in breach of EU and UK law.
In summary, the proposed claim alleges that Royal Mail’s anti-competitive behaviour had the effect of cutting off competition for bulk mail delivery services from 2014 onwards, with the result that senders of bulk mail (such as NHS Trusts, retailers, charities, local authorities, banks, utility companies, advertisers and publishers) were overcharged throughout this period.
The proposed claim, brought on behalf of an estimated 290,000 bulk mail customers, seeks to achieve compensation for this overcharge.
Andrew Wanambwa, partner at Lewis Silkin representing Bulk Mail Claim Ltd, said: “Royal Mail abused its dominant position in the bulk mail market, with the result that hundreds of thousands of customers – ranging from local authorities to charities to small businesses – found themselves paying more than they should have. The claim we are bringing seeks to secure compensation for those affected.”
