Emma Group: consumer protection case
The CMA is investigating the use of urgency claims by the Emma Group.
This investigation forms part of the CMA’s consumer enforcement work, tackling potentially harmful online selling practices
Case timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 30 November 2022 | Case launch |
Consultation letter
7 July 2023: The CMA has issued a consultation letter to Emma Sleep GmbH, Emma Matratzen GmbH, Emma Sleep UK Limited and other firms in the same corporate group and their directors (‘the Emma Group’) in relation to possible breaches of consumer protection law. The letter details the CMA’s specific concerns about the Emma Group’s online sales practices, including whether its ‘urgency claims’ such as countdown timers and ‘high demand’ claims, and ‘discounts’ were misleading consumers. The CMA has asked the Emma Group to take steps to address these. The Emma Group now has an opportunity to respond to the CMA’s concerns.
Case opening
30 November 2022: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into Emma Sleep GmbH and other firms in the same corporate group (the Emma Group)’s compliance with consumer protection law.
As part of this, the CMA is investigating the Emma Group’s use of online urgency claims, such as countdown clocks.
The CMA will now engage with the Emma Group and gather evidence to consider whether the CMA thinks any of the companies in the group have broken consumer protection law. The CMA is at the initial stage of its investigation. Accordingly, it should not be assumed that any company under investigation has broken consumer protection law.
Contact
Director, Fred Houwen
Senior Responsible Officer, George Lusty