The President of Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), Tomasz Chróstny, has initiated six new investigations into companies delaying payments to suppliers. The companies under scrutiny include Bridgestone Poznań, Bruk-Bet, Eaton Automotive Systems, Metalkas, Przedsiębiorstwo Dystrybucji Farmaceutycznej SLAWEX, and Rockfin.
Before these proceedings, UOKiK issued “soft warnings” to these companies, alerting them to the payment irregularities and encouraging prompt resolution. Since the start of 2024, UOKiK has sent nearly 40 such warnings to businesses, aiming to foster better payment discipline and prevent payment gridlocks.
Chróstny highlighted the effectiveness of these warnings, noting that nearly half of the companies contacted in 2023 improved their payment practices. He also emphasized that while warnings are part of UOKiK’s preventive approach, formal proceedings are launched if companies fail to make timely improvements.
Under Poland’s amended 2022 law addressing payment delays, UOKiK will calculate penalties in two stages: first, determining the maximum possible fine, and second, adjusting the fine based on factors such as the delay’s impact and the company’s corrective actions.
Source: https://uokik.gov.pl/zatory-platnicze-kolejne-postepowania
