The Antitrust Authority has decided to initiate an investigation into Poste Italiane to ascertain an alleged unfair commercial practice, implemented in the context of the mail delivery service and, in particular, registered mail, in possible violation of Articles 20, 21 and 22 of the Consumer Code. The hypothesis, explains the Authority, is that "the customer-sender who decides to contact Poste to send a registered letter could be deceptively induced to purchase a service advertised by claims that emphasize certain characteristics that, in its actual provision, are not respected". "It is assumed, moreover - adds the Authority - with regard to the attempted delivery of the mail, that the notice of storage of the registered package would often be deposited in the mailbox of the recipient of the shipment without prior verification of whether or not the recipient is present at their home. Therefore forcing the recipient who wants to take possession of the package to use alternative procedures provided by Poste, with a delay in delivery times and a waste of time and energy that would not be necessary if the delivery attempt were actually made". Poste, furthermore, continues, "would have conveyed misleading messages regarding the Digital Collection service, i.e. the advanced version of physical delivery, of registered mail, with reference to the related economic and usage conditions". Today, officials of the Authority carried out inspections at the offices of the company concerned, with the assistance of the Special Antitrust Unit of the Guardia di Finanza.
Article published on November 26, 2019 - 20:08
