Tougher fines for Black Friday violations as 77% of shops investigated break rules

More than three quarters of companies inspected by the government during the 2024 Black Friday campaign were in breach of regulations.

Of the 79 companies inspected by the Catalan Consumer Agency and the General Directorate of Commerce, 61 showed irregularities or fraudulent offers.

This amounts to 77.2%, up 9% on the previous year, Isidor García, director of the Catalan Consumer Agency, told the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

The inspections were mostly carried out online, on 2,950 products in categories which are often discounted – electronics, clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and household goods.

García announced that penalties will be toughened and companies found in breach of the regulations for two consecutive years will face higher penalties. 

The director of the Catalan Consumer Agency warned that prices cannot be raised ten days before the Black Friday campaign and then reduced, and lamented the violation of "rules that have long been established."

García explained that the punishment for "price indication violations" is classified as "serious," with penalties ranging from €10,001 to €100,000.

As well as fines, another deterrent will be new rules that allow authorities to publish the names of repeat offenders.

Fines

Following the 2022 Black Friday campaign, 47 companies were sanctioned for a total of €1,014,000.

As a result of the inspections carried out in 2023, 41 sanctioning cases were brought, with the final outcome still pending.