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APHCI lodges complaint against Bord Gáis with Competition Authority

The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors of Ireland has accused Bord Gáis of engaging in anti-competitive behaviour.

Updated 7.25pm

THE ASSOCIATION OF Plumbing and Heating Contractors of Ireland (APHCI) has lodged a complaint with the Competition Authority, claiming that Bord Gáis has engaged in anti-competitive behaviour.

Chairman of the APHCI, Sean Giffney, said Bord Gáis had been in “a severe state of denial about overcharging and anti-competitive practices”.

A spokesperson for Bord Gáis confirmed that a complaint had been forwarded to the Competition Authority’s Monopolies Division, but added that any company was free to make a complaint about another to the Authority. The spokesperson said it was standard procedure for such complaints to be sent to the Monopolies Division and that this in itself did not signal the veracity of a claim.

Bord Gáis released a statement insisting that the Competition Authority had not opened an investigation into Bord Gáis Energy or engaged in any correspondence with the company on the matter.

The complaint against Bord Gáis arises from the awarding of a contract to multinational contractor, Sierra (part of Siteserv plc), in 2010. It has been claimed by the APHCI that the contract has prevented independent and local contractors from offering customers access to the Bord Gáis billing system.

However, Bord Gáis said that Sierra was responsible for contracting local independent contractors to work on behalf of Bord Gáis Energy and has no role in Bord Gáis Energy’s financing arrangements with customers and did not prevent APHCI members doing work on behalf of Bord Gáis Energy.

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6 Comments
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    Mute sean o reilly
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    Mar 21st 2014, 8:11 AM

    This is the same agency that gave us AAA status in the boom times. S and P Moodys and Fitch should be regulated much tighter than the are. They have huge conflict of interest with their business practices.

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Mar 21st 2014, 8:42 AM

    These agencies are pure evil with their dirty hands in the pot moving ratings up and down for their own financial interest. They need to be wiped out.

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    Mute Bill
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    Mar 21st 2014, 8:33 AM

    AAA rating from S&P is like the kiss of death to any country or company

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    Mute Giuseppe
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    Mar 21st 2014, 9:12 AM

    Ah the reason Ryanair has been buying back it’s shares revealed.

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    Mute Jeremy Usbourne
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    Mar 21st 2014, 9:28 AM

    Has to do something with its vast profits!

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    Mute Lm group
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    Mar 21st 2014, 8:20 AM

    O shit, that’s the end of Ryan air, sell sell sell WTF has happend

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    Mute Ian Walsh
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    Mar 22nd 2014, 1:39 AM

    Guess you cant read

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    Mute R Neuville
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    Mar 21st 2014, 1:41 PM

    “Michael You’r The Man” ……. how about RyanMed …….. fly me out of here … to an airport near a Hospital without waiting lists. Gladly join a OneBigSwitch to RyanMed.

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    Mute Stanley Groves
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    Mar 22nd 2014, 5:11 AM

    The world can give Ryanair just whatever they want. I still will never ever put my feet inside one of their planes.

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