A&B Movers must pay a fine of R208‚121 after attending a meeting with 10 other removal companies‚ during which they discussed imposing a charge of R350 on customers to cover the e-toll levy on Gauteng highways‚ according to competition authorities.
The company on Friday confirmed it had agreed to pay the penalty‚ but disputed that it acknowledged any culpability.
The "administrative penalty" was announced by the Competition Tribunal‚ which said it has confirmed a consent agreement between A&B Movers and the commission.
The Competition Commission initiated a complaint against Stuttaford Van Lines Gauteng Hub‚ Pickfords Removals SA‚ A&B Movers‚ Brytons Removals‚ Amazing Transport‚ Key Moves‚ Bayley Worldwide‚ Selection Cartage‚ Elliot Mobility‚ Crown Relocations and Magna Thomson‚ the tribunal said in a statement.
The commission alleged that‚ at the meeting‚ the 11 companies agreed to “pass on to customers the additional costs they incur when they transport goods along the Gauteng e-toll roads”.
The tribunal said A&B Movers admitted to fixing the e-toll levy imposed on customers and‚ as part of the agreement‚ has agreed to assist the commission with its further investigation of the complaint.
This is rejected by the company's Danny Amaral‚ who said A&B Movers had merely consented to pay the penalty imposed on it by the competition authorities so as not to drag out the matter‚ thereby incurring potentially steep legal costs.
He said the company never implemented an e-toll charge of R350 on its customers and his company representative did not admit to any collusion.*
Amaral also stated: "We are definitely not testifying against any other company as claimed (by the commission)."
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