PLT charged a monthly fee for a service including registration with the UK “do not call” list, but failed to tell customers that this was otherwise available free of charge. Was this an illegal “misleading omission”? Barney Sich reports.
On 12 March 2015, the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Commencement No.11) Order 2015 became law and quietly revolutionised Magistrates’ powers to impose fines for breaches of advertising, trading and data laws. Stephen Groom reports.
In sponsored search results, CTN Solutions and uk-phone.com both promoted their “Easyjet Customer Services” helplines but had no connection with the airline. Both included disclaimers. Did they work? Ben Dunham reports on the ASA’s decision.
The euroclinix healthcare website featured a logo with a green tick and “PharmaCheck Know your pharmacy” linked to information about the General Pharmaceutical Council and euroclinix’s owner Hexpress. Misleading? Fiona Schneider reports.
An opinion from the French “Abusive Clauses Commission” has complained of 46 provisions in social media site terms of use and privacy policies that in its view are unfair. Georgina Graham and Gregoire Dumas report.
An Italian supermarket chain promoted offers. A customer travelled to a branch but offer products were not available. A fine for breach of EU unfair commercial practices laws ensued, but the retailer appealed to the CJEU. Why? Thomas Spanyol reports.
It now seems probable that the threshold for six figure penalties to be issued for breaches of privacy and electronic communications laws will be lowered dramatically very soon. But will the change extend to emails and cookies? Stephen Groom reports.
After 214 complaints to ICO and the “do not call” list administrator the Telephone Preference Service, enforcement action was taken over cold calls to often vulnerable consumers despite their numbers being on the TPS list. Fiona Schneider reports.
Misleading financial promotions can fall within the remit of both the Financial Conduct Authority and the Advertising Standards Authority. This MoU provides a framework for co-operation and co-ordination between the two bodies. Sadie Alo reports.
The “CPP” was formed in 2012 and includes the CMA, the FCA and Trading Standards. Its new strategic priorities report identifies detrimental marcoms practices that will be on enforcers’ hit lists in the year ahead. Stephen Groom reports.
“Any 3 for £10. £5 each” said headlines in advertising offering selected wines at bargain prices. But should an end date have been included after customers had problems finding the wines in stores? Thomas Spanyol reports the ASA’s decision.
As of 13 December 2014 the 1996 Food Labelling Regulations were no more. The new regime is primarily aimed at labelling, but it also has implications for advertisers and marketers. Stephen Groom reports.
