Car rental, because the Antitrust Authority will scrutinize Arval Service (Bnp Paribas)
The Agcm initiated an investigation into Arval Service Lease Italia for alleged misleading and aggressive conduct. The long-term vehicle rental company would make deliveries with significant delays and would charge high penalties in case of termination of the contract
Faro Antitrust on the long-term car rental company Arval.
The Competition and Market Authority (Agcm) has initiated an investigation procedure against Arval Service Lease Italia SpA, a company that operates in the long-term vehicle rental sector, for allegedly misleading and aggressive conduct. It can be read in a note from the Authority chaired by Roberto Rustichelli .
Specifically, the Agcm will evaluate the company's behavior with regard to the long-term rental service of motor vehicles for consumers and micro-enterprises.
Yesterday the Authority officials carried out inspections at the offices of Arval Service Lease Italia SpA with the help of the Special Antitrust Unit of the Guardia di Finanza.
All the details.
WHAT IS ARVAL SERVICE LEASE
Arval is a French company owned by Bnp Paribas, one of the leading European banking groups in financial services. Founded in 1989, the company operates in the long-term rental and mobility services sector. Since 1995 it has also been present in our country, with Arval Service Lease Italia SpA. The company is aimed at both large international companies, SMEs, PAs and private professionals. Arval has over 7,500 employees globally, and boasts a fleet of over 1.5 million vehicles, 243,000 of which are nationwide.
BECAUSE THE ANTITRUST HAS STARTED THE INSTRUCTORY PROCEDURE
Under the Authority's lens, the significant delays – complained by consumers and consumer associations – with which the company would deliver the vehicles ordered, despite the regular advance payments and precautionary deposits have been paid. In some cases, delivery would take place many months after the planned date, even when it comes to vehicles presented as ready for delivery, or with delivery in rapid and certain times.
IN ADDITION TO DELAYS, HIGH PENALTIES
Furthermore, the delayed reimbursement of the consideration paid by the consumer following the termination of the contract and / or withdrawal, the application of high penalties in the event of termination of the contract, the failure or inadequate management of complaints and consumer requests may be incorrect. . Overall, these conducts appear likely to constitute cases of unfair commercial practices, in violation of articles 20, 21, 22, 24 and 25 of the Consumer Code.
Finally, according to the Antitrust Authority, Arval may have also violated articles 49, paragraph 1, letters h) and v), 56 and 61 of the Consumer Code because it failed to provide certain pre-contractual information concerning the conditions for exercising the right of withdrawal. and the possibility of using an extra-judicial mechanism for resolving any disputes that may arise.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/economia-on-demand/noleggio-auto-perche-lantitrust-scrutera-arval-service-bnp-paribas/ on Fri, 16 Sep 2022 14:03:57 +0000.