Complaint over ‘€199 Fiat Punto’ advert upheld

A CAR dealership that offered a Fiat Punto for an “actual price” of €199 on a website, when the actual cost was almost €12,000, has been criticised by the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland.

The regulatory body of the advertising industry upheld a complaint that the advertisement offering the vehicle at such a price was misleading, as it referred to the monthly payment on a car finance package.

The advertiser, Airton Motor Group based in Tallaght, explained the price was a finance offer based over a 60-month period.

However, the complainant said there was no indication on the webpage that the price related to a finance offer and he believed €199 was “a reasonable price” for the vehicle.

Airton accepted that there might have been an error on the website on the day in question.

The website on which it was advertised, Carzone.ie, has subsequently requested all dealers to refrain from advertising monthly prices and only publish total prices.

The ASAI also upheld a complaint by Bord Gais against press and radio advertisements by one of its main rivals, Airtricity.

Bord Gáis complained that Airtricity’s claims that their energy supplies were “five times more environmentally friendly than Bord Gáis” were misleading. The company also took issue with Airtricity’s assertion that it was 13% cheaper than the new ESB rates.

The ASAI upheld the complaint, pointing out that Airtricity should have made it clear at all points that 13% was a maximum saving based on a number of conditions being met.