They drew backlash after the Kartalkaya fire: Fines rained down on those who hiked fire extinguisher prices excessively!

The Unfair Price Evaluation Board, operating under the Ministry of Trade, held its first meeting of 2025. In the statement made following the meeting, where the results of inspections were discussed, it was announced that a total of 126.7 million TL in administrative fines had been imposed due to exorbitant price increases on fire extinguishers, private schools, and grocery stores.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER OPPORTUNISM HAD OCCURRED

Following the fire disaster in Bolu Kartalkaya, the increased demand for fire extinguishers and fire suppression equipment led some businesses to raise prices at exorbitant rates. The Ministry of Trade took action upon receiving complaints and tightened its inspections. As a result of the investigations, fines totaling 7 million 696 thousand 810 TL were imposed on businesses determined to have engaged in unfair price increases for fire safety equipment.

RECORD FINES FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND GROCERY STORES

High price increases in annual tuition fees as well as additional services such as stationery, meals, and uniforms at private schools had caused backlash from parents. As a result of the investigations, the Ministry imposed 66 million 207 thousand 800 TL in administrative fines on private schools determined to have gained unfair profits.

On the other hand, bakeries selling bread contrary to the tariff, butchers selling meat and food at exorbitant prices, and national and local grocery stores did not escape inspection. A total of 52 million 824 thousand 640 TL in fines was imposed on these businesses.

The Ministry's statement is as follows:

THE MINISTRY OF TRADE UNFAIR PRICE EVALUATION BOARD IMPOSED A TOTAL OF 126.7 MILLION TL IN FINES FOR INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED AT THE FIRST MEETING OF 2025

The fire disaster that occurred in our country on January 21, 2024, has deeply saddened us all. Such tragic events are the most sensitive moments when we must stand in unity and solidarity as a society, and they should in no way be open to exploitation. However, following such a painful process, complaints regarding exorbitant price increases for fire safety equipment on various sales channels, especially e-commerce platforms, were brought to the attention of our Ministry.

In this regard, our Ministry took immediate action, and large-scale investigations were initiated at the relevant electronic marketplaces and local points of sale. Urgent requests for information and documents were made regarding the businesses selling products on electronic marketplaces, and the process was followed up by conducting necessary inspections in the field by our provincial directorates of trade.

7.7 MILLION TL IN FINES IMPOSED IN THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EQUIPMENT SECTOR

As a result of the discussion of the documents obtained and the inspection results within the scope of the aforementioned investigation by the Board, it was decided to impose an administrative fine of 7,696,810.00 TL on businesses evaluated to have made exorbitant price increases on fire safety equipment.

Furthermore, following the transmission of the work carried out by the Ministry of National Education to our Ministry, exorbitant price increases regarding goods and services offered by private educational institutions were taken under review within the authority of the Unfair Price Evaluation Board. In this context, comprehensive inspection activities were carried out by our Ministry's inspectors within the framework of the Law on the Regulation of Retail Trade No. 6585 and relevant legislative provisions to determine whether exorbitant price increases were applied in the basic services of private schools such as tutoring, meals, books-stationery, and uniforms.

66.2 MILLION TL IN FINES IMPOSED ON PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR TUTORING, BOOKS, AND UNIFORM SECTORS

As a result of the investigations, private educational institutions that applied the highest price increases, especially in tutoring, meal, book-stationery, and uniform fees, as well as schools with a widespread education network across the country, were subjected to detailed evaluation by the Unfair Price Evaluation Board. In this framework, it was decided to impose an administrative fine of 66,207,800.00 TL on the relevant private school operating companies that victimized our citizens by gaining unfair profits.

During this process, all necessary administrative measures have been taken to establish a fair and transparent pricing policy in educational services, to resolve the grievances of our parents, and to combat all kinds of unfair practices and opportunistic approaches that may be encountered in our education system.

52.8 MILLION TL IN FINES IMPOSED ON CHAIN AND LOCAL GROCERY STORES

On the other hand, within the scope of the inspections carried out by our Ministry in a wide range from bakeries selling bread contrary to the tariff and butchers selling at exorbitant prices to national and local chain grocery stores and other retail businesses operating in the retail trade sector, it was decided by the Board to impose an administrative fine of 52,824,640.00 TL on businesses acting contrary to the legislation.

In total, as a result of the decisions taken at the first meeting of 2025 of the Ministry of Trade Unfair Price Evaluation Board, it was decided to impose a total of 126.7 MILLION TL in administrative fines on businesses that made exorbitant price increases.

Respectfully announced to the public.

News Source: 12punto