Taxi-fare payment company Cabcharge has been ordered to pay $15 million in penalties and costs for engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took legal action against Cabcharge, claiming the company had breached the Trade Practices Act. It alleged Cabcharge had used its market power to prevent competing companies processing Cabcharge taxi payments. The regulator alleged Cabcharge supplied a number of taxi meters and fare-schedule updates either below cost or free of charge. Cabcharge was also accused of entering into an arrangement with Townsville Taxis to acquire approximately 130 rival EFTPOS terminals used by the taxi network and replacing them with Cabcharge EFTPOS terminals. Cabcharge admitted to all three allegations. ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel says this is the highest penalty imposed in misuse of market power brought by the watchdog.