This weeks rulings have been published. The following advertisers have been formally investigated by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
Rulings for: 24 May 2017
- DSG Retail Ltd t/a Currys PC World – Upheld
A website for Currys PC World, www.currys.co.uk, seen on 25 November 2016 included a product page for a Samsung RF24FSEDBSR American-Style fridge-freezer with the accompanying text “DISCOUNT CODE- £150 off the marked price…Also available in store. Hurry, ends Monday”. Further text stated that the product was out of …
- Drink Doctor Ltd – Upheld
Four posts on Drink Doctor Ltd’s Facebook page, seen in December 2016, promoted a 24-hour alcohol delivery service:
- A cartoon image of a man drinking wine from a bottle was accompanied by text stating, “People are not addicted to alcohol or drugs, they are addicted to escaping reality”.
- Text stated “ACCORDING TO CHEMISTRY, ALCOHOL IS THE SOLUTION”.
- An image of a man drinking wine from three bottles in one go and standing in front of a large number of stacked boxes containing wine was accompanied by text stating “In Jerusalem there is the Wailing Wall. We have the WINEing Wall in Manchester.
- An image of Noel Gallagher was accompanied by text stating “I see people all the time going to therapy, thinking they’ve got a problem. What’s up with everyone get onit [sic], order a Crateman and live a little…or a lot”.
- Funeral Services Ltd t/a Co-Op Funeralcare – Not Upheld
A TV ad and a video shown on Co-op Funeralcare’s YouTube channel, seen between October 2016 and February 2017:
- The TV ad featured scenes of an older man with his tractor engine. The man was shown driving his tractor while a voice-over stated, “Unlike some funeral plan providers, Co-op Funeralcare cover all …
- Halfords Ltd – Upheld
A TV ad for Halfords Ltd seen in November 2016 featured a man and woman in a car with the male actor stating, “Packed the boot, drive into darkness realised it was too dark. Pulled into Halfords, picked up a new bulb, had it fitted, journeyed into the light”. The voice-over then stated, “Buy a replacement car headli…
A national press ad and website for the National Geographic Society’s books ‘Our Mathematical World’, seen on 1 January 2017:
- The press ad stated “Discover how mathematics is all around us! We find it in the proportions of the most famous paintings in history, in the patterns of the big cats, in the structu…
- No.1 Watson Street – Upheld
An advertorial for the bar No.1 Watson Street, seen on the lifestyle magazine website for Manchester Confidential, www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk, on 15 December 2016, promoted the bar’s features and services.
- RSL Roof Restorations – Upheld
A leaflet for the roofing company RSL Roof Restorations, seen on 21 February 2017, which said “Important Notice – If you are retired/semi-retired or over 60 years old you may be eligible for financial assistance or a subsidy payment for roof protection or renewal” and “If your property is aged over 20…
- Thomson Legal Ltd t/a Assured Legal – Not Upheld
A tweet from claims management company Assured Legal Services, seen on 3 February 2017, which said “£223.7 MILLION on compensation for PPI paid in ONE MONTH… still don’t want to check? Message us today! #ppi #compensation #financialfriend.” The tweet included an image with text that said “£223.7m wa…
- VCUP Trading Ltd t/a Vape Cloud UK – Upheld
A press ad for a local e-cigarette store, Poynton Vapes, seen in the Macclesfield Express on 1 March 2017. The ad featured text which stated “POYNTON VAPES” and listed the store’s address, phone number, opening times and the URL “www.vapeclouduk.co.uk”. Above the text, there was an image of the s…
A Facebook post for Waxon Waxoff Management Ltd, seen in September 2016, included the text “Are You Paying, Or Have You Ever Paid For Your Bank Account? RECLAIM YOUR MONTHLY FEES FOR YOUR PACKAGED BANK ACCOUNT…5 reasons you should choose us to help reclaim your account fees! No Win – No Fee All cases worked on a No …
ASA adjudications provide important guidance to advertisers on how the Advertising Codes are to be interpreted. They act as a transparent record of their policy for consumers, media, government, industry and society at large on what is and isn’t acceptable in advertising.
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Previous rulings: 17 May 2017