Crossword Genius

Price-fixers getting hump - felt unprotected (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cartel

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'price-fixers' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'hump felt unprotected' is the wordplay.
'hump' becomes 'cart' (I've seen this before).
'unprotected' means to look at the middle letters.
The middle of 'felt' is 'el'.
'cart'+'el'='CARTEL'

'getting' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cartel that I've seen before include "Manufacturer's association restricting competition" , "Self-interest group who control prices" , "Manufacturers' group controlling market" , "Protective trade ring for claret" , "Protective trade group for claret" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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