Authority files charges

Austrian Post now faces a hefty fine for advertising mailings

(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

Austrian Post is facing trouble. The Competition Authority (BWB) is demanding that the partly state-owned company be punished with an "appropriate fine" for a case that occurred several years ago. 

Background: Five years ago, several consolidators - i.e. service providers that process direct mail items for major customers - appealed to the Cartel Court because they felt they were being disadvantaged by Swiss Post, which also offers the service itself. They were partially vindicated, and Swiss Post adjusted its approach at the beginning of 2022.

Fee for Info.Mail deliveries
According to the BWB, the Cartel Court made it clear at the time that Swiss Post was not allowed to give mailing customers higher annual bonuses or discounts than the consolidators when charging for Info.Mail deliveries. The Post Office then cooperated and stopped the infringement. The application for a fine that has now been filed is the follow-up to the proceedings.

(Bild: MM flash)

"The application was made specifically due to the legally established abuse of market power in the individual proceedings due to the discriminatory discount practice of Österreichische Post AG for the Info.Mail division," the authority stated in a press release.

Austrian Post currently in talks with the authorities
The listed postal service said on Friday: "We are currently in talks with the authorities in order to reach an agreement, a so-called settlement. We are confident that we can achieve a fair result." The company had acted in good faith in this case on the basis of similar practices in other European countries.