In December 2023, the Italian Competition and Market Authority imposed a fine of 4.5 million on Facile Ristrutturare and Renovars (its parent company) for unfair and misleading commercial practices.
According to the Authority, the two companies not only spread fake online reviews drafted by their employees but also, in some instances, applied a hidden cost applying the standard VAT rate of 22% instead of the reduced 10% rate violating thereby articles 20, 21, and 22 of the Italian Consumer Code for the spreading of inauthentic reviews and misleading consumers about the price of renovation supply materials.
For these reasons, the Competition and Market Authority decided to fine the two companies for a total amount of 4.5 million Euro.