Online e-commerce giant Amazon is facing a collective lawsuit from the Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) over alleged price-parity policy violations affecting 45 million consumers in the UK.
The claim was filed with the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal on 14 August 2025.
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ACSO, a UK body dedicated to consumer rights, alleges that from August 2019 to August 2025, customers who bought items from third-party sellers on Amazon’s platform were overcharged due to the company’s price-parity policies.
The group contends that Amazon’s price parity policies restrict third-party sellers from setting lower prices for their products on alternative online platforms.
According to ACSO, this practice shields Amazon from competitive pricing with other e-commerce entities, resulting in increased costs for UK consumers.
ACSO asserts these consumers may be entitled to reimbursement for the excess amounts paid.
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By GlobalDataACSO founder and executive director Matthew Maxwell-Scott stated: “Millions of people in the UK make purchases on Amazon every day. Despite the company’s assurances that it is above all else ‘customer-obsessed’, we consider there are strong grounds to argue that UK consumers have paid higher prices because of Amazon’s pricing policies.
“ACSO is therefore bringing collective proceedings against Amazon to ensure that consumers can obtain redress for the considerable losses they have suffered. Collective actions such as these are an excellent way for consumers to exercise their rights and for anti-competitive corporate behaviour to be challenged.”
Amazon’s pricing strategies have previously been scrutinised by competition authorities worldwide.
The international law firm Stephenson Harwood, led by partner Genevieve Quierin, is representing ACSO. The legal team includes Tim Knight, Alex Athanasopoulos, Katelyn Iacono, Mikaela Hristova and Jay Kim.
Genevieve Quierin stated: “Amazon appears to have circumvented previous regulatory interventions targeting its pricing policies and is now implementing policies which we contend are anti-competitive, to the detriment of UK consumers. We are grateful that ACSO has instructed Stephenson Harwood, and we look forward to securing compensation for the millions of consumers who have been affected by Amazon’s alleged anti-competitive conduct.”
Ben Lask KC, Luke Kelly and Jenn Lawrence of Monckton Chambers, along with The Brattle Group, have also been instructed by ACSO to support the collective proceedings.
