Tobacconist security provision: Double Tour company fined for issuing cover quotes

Following an investigation by the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) into the tobacconist security provision sector, mainly in the Pays de la Loire and Nouvelle Aquitaine regions, Leray Sécurité accepted the settlement proposed by the DGCCRF, whereas Double Tour, which had also issued cover quotes, rejected it.

The investigation established that, between 2011 and 2017, Leray Sécurité and Double Tour regularly exchanged information, particularly by email, concerning the prices and nature of the services tendered to obtain the security work, before submitting their bids.

By using cover quotes to skew the competition process required by regulations, Double Tour breached competition law and contributed to the misuse of public funds.

In view of these factors, and taking into account the scale of the practices but also the low value of the quotes concerned, the Autorité handed out a fine of 9,100 euros to Double Tour.