The aim of a cartel is to increase prices by restricting or removing competition between the participants. Cartels are operated secretly and can be hard to detect. In fact, simultaneous price changes or similar prices can be perfectly consistent with normal competitive pressures in the market place. A member of the Cartels investigation branch will discuss your concerns with you. If the cartel exists within your own undertaking it may be possible to benefit from the leniency programme .
Notification is optional.
The OFT takes the view that few agreements will genuinely need to be notified and strongly discourages undertakings from notifying on a fail-safe basis. If you are unsure as to whether you should notify, then you should contact the OFT to discuss the matter informally. The rules on notification are set out in the 'Director's Rules' which can be found in Statutory Instrument 2000 No. 293 . Annexed to the SI is Form N which sets out the detailed information that must be provided when notifying. There are also guidance notes to filling in Form N on the OFT website.