Consequently,
Government hardens tone after fnac:
An exceptional fine at the heart of an ancient litigation – Government hardens tone after fnac
The Directorate General for Competition. Therefore, Consumption and the Repression of Frauds (DGCCRF) sanctioned ETS DARTY & FILS up to 1 950 000 eurosfor payment delays proven towards his suppliers. In addition, In stride, Fnac Darty Participations and Services was inflicted a fine of the same amount. Consequently, The total climbs to 3.9 million euros For the group. Furthermore, who said he “ intends to appeal against this decision “, According to a declaration made to Figaro.
The management of Fnac Darty contextualizes: ” The dispute in question concerns ancient facts that occurred in the midst. Consequently, of a health crisis linked to the COVVI-19 ». For example, The case therefore refers to a period when logistics and accounting were strongly disturbed.
Payment delays: a threat to the French economy – Government hardens tone after fnac
If government hardens tone after fnac the fine inflicted on Fnac Darty impresses. Nevertheless, it is because this type of sanction remains rare. Nevertheless, In 2024, the DGCCRF pronounced 217 finesbut the majority were located at much lower levels. For example, This hardening is explained by a alarming degradation of payment behaviors.
According to the payment time observatory, The average delay reached 13.6 days in the last quarter of 2024. Meanwhile, A performance that makes France go back to the European ranking. The consequences are dramatic for very small businesses (VSEs) and small and medium -sized businesses (SMEs). The shortfall is estimated to 15 billion euros in evaporated cash flowaccording to experts cited in Le Figaro.
The situation is not new, but it has stretched. « In a context where order notebooks fill less well than before. a large number of companies play this balance of power »analysis Denis Le Bossé, president of the CABI Cabinet government hardens tone after fnac (Le FigaroAugust 4, 2025).
THE clients dominant – often large groups – do not hesitate to delay their paymentsposting the burden on their. supplierssometimes under pressure. The Arc barometer reveals that 80 % of companies consider payment deadlines as an adjustment variable Faced with cash tensions.
Systemic flaws. ineffective penalties, and reform in view
According to the Banque de France, Only half of large companies respect the legal deadline of 60 days. In structures of more than 1,000 employees, delays are on average 18 days. The DGCCRF points “Accounting organization failures” as the main source of these delays. aggravated in some cases by a relocation of invoice management.
The Cabinet Altarès underlines that The risk of supplier’s failure increases 25 % in the event of delay, and 40 % beyond 30 days.
Faced with this drift, the effectiveness of sanctions is called into question. The current legal ceiling – government hardens tone after fnac 2 million euros – Appears insufficient. “” 2 million euros. and even 4 million, it is the thickness of a line for groups that make billions of euros in turnover “, Critique Denis Le Bossé.
The government wants to raise their tone: up to 1 % of turnover
In July 2025, Prime Minister François Bayrou reacted firmly. He said the government is ” determined to strengthen sanctions with regard to debtors in the event of delay. in payment of these claims ». The objective displayed: end abusive practices that destabilize PME.
A change of scale is therefore underway. In the future, sanctions could reach 1 % of the turnover of faulty companies. This new calculation base is in a Senator LR Olivier Rietmann Senator billsupported by the government. and expected in Parliament From the start of the 2025 school year.
Growing political pressure on large companies
The Fnac government hardens tone after fnac Darty affair alone illustrates the Limits of the current system. It also reveals a better political will protect suppliers Fragile, often captive of dominant order donors.
Véronique Louwagie, Minister Delegate to SMEs, has already put the subject at the top of her agenda. And Bercy promises to maintain the pressure.
The policy of the “name. shame” – publicly display the offenders – is now accompanied bya legal overhaul of sanctions. The objective: to restore commercial equity essential to the French economic fabric health.
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