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TomCopeland 09:23 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by melissa ann:
Tom Copeland here - Federal anti-trust laws (for more info: www.justice.gov/atr/public/div_stats/1638.htm) say that it's illegal for competitors to discuss rates
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Inquiring about rates is not the same comptetitors discussing rates. If someone who wants to start a childcare business, that never had children in childcare how is that person supposed to know what is a "fair" price? My children were never in childcare and I had no idea what people were charging. I called other providers, acting like a parent needing childcare and asked their rates. I've had people call me "acting" as a parent to find out my rates. I don't see anything wrong with it.
You are correct. It's price fixing only when both parties know they are competitors. So, if you call another provider and ask what her rates are, and the other provider doesn't know that you are a provider, then it's not price fixing.
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