In recent news, Selectra, a leading online platform for comparing electricity and gas prices, agreed to pay a fine of 400,000 euros instead of facing a criminal trial for suspected deceptive commercial practices. Over a two-year investigation between 2020 and 2022, agents of the General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) found that Selectra had engaged in multiple fraudulent activities towards consumers.
Among the deceptive practices discovered by consumer police were the highlighting of prices from a specific energy supplier on Selectra’s French websites. These offers were presented with non-existent discounts, false statements suggesting high financial attractiveness, and ambiguous language concealing the fact that the supplier’s kWh price was actually higher than the regulated rate. Additionally, Selectra was accused of hiding its commercial intentions to insert links on public bodies’ websites that aimed to inform consumers.
In response to the allegations, Selectra stated in writing that the company had rectified errors, updated rules for monetizing content, and implemented controls to prevent individual deviations in communication. The company claimed to be developing technology, including artificial intelligence, to automatically update energy prices. Originally founded in 2007 to specialize in comparing electricity and gas prices, Selectra has diversified its services to include comparisons in internet and telephone markets, insurance
