OREANDA-NEWS. May 19, 2014. The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Arkhangelsk region (Arkhangelsk OFAS Russia) fined “Rosgosstrakh” Ltd. twice for abusing market dominance. The total sum of the fines exceeded 9.1 million RUB.

The first fine – 8.4 million RUB was imposed upon “Rosgosstrakh” Ltd. because from 1st January 2012 to 2nd October 2013 the insurance company concluded mandatory third party liability insurance agreements (OSAGO) with vehicle owners for the full insurance period (1 year) in breach of the Federal Law “On OSAGO” – without verifying information on passing vehicle inspection.

Instead, the insurance company concluded agreements with the insured for technical inspection on behalf of “Tekhosmotr” CJSC, and issued pre-filled vouchers and referred to technical examination in the above company. Agents and staff members of the insurance company charged insurers for technical inspection against receipt of funds.

According to the Commission of Arkhangelsk OFAS Russia, actions of “Rosgosstrakh” Ltd. restricted competition on the market of vehicle technical inspection and reduced the number of technical inspection operators in the region.

The antimonopoly body also established that the insurance company had refused to conclude OSAGO agreements with vehicle owners without forcibly purchasing an agreement for voluntary accident insurance - “Avto” RGS-Fortuna” policy in the Arkhangelsk region. Under Part 1 Article 14.31 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Violations, Arkhangelsk OFAS Russia imposed a second fine - over 730,000 RUB.

“Arkhangelsk OFAS Russia continues receiving numerous complaints from citizens about insurance companies refusing to conclude OSAGO agreements due to absence of policy forms and forcing customers to buy voluntary insurance policies. In the near future we’ll give substantive consideration to the complaints from vehicle owners”, commented Deputy Head of the Department of Arkhangelsk OFAS Russia for Antimonopoly Control, Yuri Takulov.