Deputy files complaint against ferry company

BURSA - Doğan News Agency

IDO, Istanbul’s ferry firm, is abusing the advantages of holding a monopoly in marine transportation, claims Republican People’s Party Deputy Turhan Tayan. DHA photo

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Turhan Tayan has filed a complaint with the Competition Authority against İDO, Istanbul’s ferry firm. He has also filed a parliamentary question for Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım to reply to about price hikes under the name of the “flexible price policy,” following İDO’s privatization.

Tayan claims that İDO has abused the advantages of holding a monopoly in marine transportation after it was privatized in 2011.

According to him, the firm was profitable, protective of consumer rights and also was not abusing
its dominant position, prior to privatization.

“İDO, which provides marine access to provinces and districts on the Marmara Sea with a market share of nearly 100 percent, has become an enterprise holding a monopoly with regard to the Competition Law. Price tariffs and implementations did not change all the time when the firm was under [the management of] the municipality and the good of the public and the consumer was considered. But today, price tariffs often change and İDO abuses its dominant position with a new implementation every day,” Tayan said.

İDO has deliberately slowed down purchasing tickets online and at ticket windows, thus forcing passengers to buy more expensive express tickets, he also claimed. Surcharges under the name of service charges have lead to harsh responses from the passengers, he said.

“In the past, drivers were not charged when tickets for cars were purchased. Separate tickets for drivers and cars started after privatization,” Tayan said, adding that seats next to windows were being sold at higher prices.