Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland release latest Complaints Bulletin
- 17 advertisements found to be in breach of the ASAI Code on grounds relating to Misleading Advertising, Principles, Taste and Decency, Safety and Promotions
The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland’s (ASAI) independent Complaints Committee has released its latest Complaints Bulletin which contains 20 case reports on complaints recently investigated by the ASAI.
17 of the 20 advertisements were found to have been in breach of the ASAI Code on grounds relating to Misleading Advertising, Principles, Taste and Decency, Safety and Promotions. The advertisements complained of related to poster, website, social media, internet, cinema, TV, press, radio, leaflet and brochure advertising. The ASAI Complaints Committee chose not to uphold one consumer complaint and one intra industry / interested party complaint.
Two of the upheld advertisements complained about related to complaints from intra industry / interested parties. The ASAI has also issued a statement on one case and has advised advertisers to take note of their concerns in any future advertising campaign.
The Complaints Committee is a completely independent arm of the ASAI and is responsible for considering and dealing with complaints submitted by the public, by a member of the ASAI, by a Government Department or any other person or body of persons. The Committee is made up of a range of experts from the advertising, media, education, consumer and marketing sectors. See further details here – http://www.asai.ie/about-us/complaints-committee.
Commenting on the latest ASAI rulings, Orla Twomey, Chief Executive of the ASAI, stated:
“The latest complaints bulletin from the ASAI highlights the ASAI’s commitment to protecting consumers and holding advertisers to account when their advertising is not compliant with the requirements of the ASAI Code. The ASAI approach is to work with all advertisers, rather than against them, to ultimately ensure that all marketing communications are legal, truthful, decent and honest. The ASAI provide a free and confidential copy advice service to advertisers, agencies and media members to help them create responsible ads. If an advertiser has any concerns about a marketing communications’ compliance with the ASAI’s Code, they can contact us and avail of the free and confidential copy advice service.
Sectors tend to fluctuate as marketing trends develop, and this includes the Telecommunications sector. The ASAI has noted the complaints within the Telecommunications Sector in particular and is continuing to work with and actively engage with advertisers within the area, to ensure that all future advertising is legal, decent, honest and truthful.”
Below is a list of complaints which have been found to be in breach of the ASAI Code:
| Company/Organisation | Complaint Category | Further Details |
|
An Droichead Beag |
Principals / Misleading (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/leisure-nightclub-2/
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|
Lyca Mobile |
Principals / Misleading (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading due to lack of information Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/telecommunications-53/
|
|
Lyca Mobile |
Principals / Misleading (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/telecommunications-54/
|
|
Nissan Ireland |
Taste & Decency (7th Edition) |
The independent complaints committee considered the ad to be in breach of sections 3.3 and 3.25 of the ASAI Code Complaint Upheld in Part http://www.asai.ie/complaint/motoring-20/
|
|
AIB |
Safety (7th Edition) |
The independent committee considered the ad to be in breach of section 3.24(a) of the ASAI Code
Complaint upheld in part http://www.asai.ie/complaint/financial-8/
|
|
Eir |
Misleading (6th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/telecommunications-56/
|
|
North’s Property |
Misleading (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/property-5/
|
|
|
Misleading (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/business-services-2/
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Aer Lingus |
Misleading (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/travelholidays-11/
|
|
Eir |
Misleading (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld |
|
Ballet Opera Ireland |
Misleading (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/leisure-9/
|
|
Ryanair |
Misleading / Promotions (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/travelholidays-12/
|
|
Westwood Club |
Misleading / Promotions (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/west-wood-club/
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|
Sim’s IVF Cork |
Misleading (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/sims-ivf-cork/
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|
Eir |
Misleading / Promotions (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/eir/
|
The ASAI upheld complaints made by Intra Industry / Interested Parties in the following cases:
| Company/Organisation | Complaint Category | Further Details |
|
TanningSalon.ie |
Misleading (7th Edition) |
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading Complaint Upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/tanningsalon-ie/
|
|
CityPOST |
Misleading / Prices (7th Edition)
|
The committee considered the advertisement to be misleading under sections 4.1 and 4.4 of the ASAI Code Complaint upheld in part http://www.asai.ie/complaint/citypost/
|
The following complaints were investigated and following investigation, the ASAI Complaints Committee did not uphold the complaints.
| Company/Organisation | Complaint Category | Further Details |
|
LIDL |
Taste & Decency (7th Edition) |
Complaint Not upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/lidl/
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|
Vodafone |
Comparisons (7th Edition)
|
Complaint Not upheld http://www.asai.ie/complaint/telecommunications-57/
|
The following complaints made by consumers were investigated and following investigation, the ASAI Complaints Committee considered that it was more appropriate to deal with the matter by way of a statement.
|
Universal Pictures International / Ireland / Just Jordan |
Recognisability |
Statement Issued by ASAI
http://www.asai.ie/complaint/just-jordanuniversal-pictures-international-ireland/ |
The ASAI conducts ongoing monitoring of advertising across all media and since 2007, has examined over 27,000 advertisements, with an overall compliance rate of 98 per cent. The ASAI Monitoring Service monitors compliance with the Complaints Committee’s adjudications.
Media members are reminded that advertisements found to be in breach of the Code cannot be accepted for publication.
Or follow the ASAI on Twitter @THE_ASAI
