The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) has initiated an investigation against Allegro sp. z o.o., the operator of a Polish online trading platform. The authority suspects that the company may have misled consumers through its website and mobile application by promoting a 'Lowest Price Guarantee' without providing adequate information about the terms of this guarantee.

GVH has observed that significant information regarding the eligibility for the guarantee, such as the requirement to shop as a registered user and the limited applicability of the received coupon, is not easily accessible. Consumers reportedly need to click multiple times or scroll extensively to find this information. Furthermore, the authority believes that Allegro has not acted with the necessary diligence and good faith, as the guarantee system is structured with multiple restrictive conditions that complicate both the claim process and the usability of the coupons for consumers.

The initiation of this competition supervision procedure does not imply that the company has committed a legal violation. The procedure aims to clarify the facts and potentially prove the alleged infringement. The investigation is set to last three months, with the possibility of two extensions of up to two months each if justified. The GVH emphasizes that the time taken for the company to provide necessary information does not count towards the administrative deadline.

In recent years, the GVH has investigated several companies employing online methods aimed at concealing information, known as 'dark patterns.' In 2024, a decision by the GVH enabled over 80,000 consumers to receive compensation from the Eventim ticket sales portal. Additionally, Wizz Air has faced multiple investigations, resulting in a fine of 300 million HUF last year for misleading passengers, and the company is now required to provide monetary compensation to thousands of consumers for withholding essential information regarding online check-in.

Such questionable practices are becoming increasingly common. In 2023, the European Commission released findings from a coordinated rapid investigation across 25 countries, assessing the presence of 'dark patterns' in online commerce. The results indicated that a significant number of businesses distort consumer decisions through unfair methods, manipulating their online interfaces or language to serve their interests.