The Polish competition authority, UOKiK, has penalized Oltens 1, a distributor of bathroom equipment, for engaging in price-fixing practices that restricted online retailers from competing on price. This practice led to consumers paying higher prices for Oltens products.

Oltens 1 enforced minimum resale prices for its products sold through online stores, which meant that independent retailers could not offer lower prices. The company monitored its partners' pricing closely and imposed penalties for non-compliance, including blocking access to purchasing platforms.

UOKiK's President, Tomasz Chróstny, stated that while suggested retail prices can be permissible, they become illegal when enforced as mandatory minimums. The authority found that Oltens' actions significantly limited price competition and deprived consumers of the opportunity to find better deals online.

The fines imposed include a reduction of 45% due to the company's cooperation with the investigation under the leniency program, resulting in a total fine of 256,300 PLN for Oltens 1 and smaller fines for two of its managers.