Ryanair in breach of advertising code

RYANAIR is one of a number of companies found to have been in breach of the national advertising code, according to the latest bulletin of the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland.

A press advertisement by Ryanair offering air fares to France for €29.99 during August and September last was found to be misleading after a customer complained that no return flights were offered in the relevant period from his chosen destination.

The ASAI expressed particular concern that Ryanair had not responded to the complaint. “There is an onus on advertisers to ensure that their advertising is in conformity with the code,” said the authority. In the absence of a response from Ryanair, the complaint was upheld.

Twelve complaints were considered, ranging from travel and leisure to telecommunications and healthcare.

The Complaints Committee found 10 to be in breach on grounds relating to truthfulness, safety and principles. The advertisements complained of related to the internet, press, radio, television and direct mail.

The ASAI upheld a complaint against a TV commercial on behalf of VHI Healthcare which wrongly implied that the company’s members could expect to receive preferential or better care in Accident and Emergency departments of hospitals.

The VHI advert illustrated the experience of Ed, a health care member, in a cartoon style. He narrated the story of when he received a head injury playing football and how his healthcare provider looked after him.

A complaint relating to Eircom’s broadband service was upheld in part after a consumer objected to an advertisement in a direct mail letter which offered unlimited phone calls as part of the company’s ‘bundle’ package. She said that she was informed that the calls were off peak calls. The committee found the letter breached the code by failing adequately to point out the terms and conditions of the offer.

The committee also considered earlier decisions in relation to offers in the telecommunications industry of unlimited calls or similar while employing a “fair usage policy”.

They decided that for the application of a “fair usage policy” to fit with a marketing communication offering unlimited services, at least 99% of the service provider’s relevant customer base should not be constrained in their usage by the policy.

The committee further upheld a complaint against TV cable company UPC which found it mislead customers by wrongly suggesting it offered as many channels as Sky.

A complaint against the food group Denny was upheld after a bus driver complained that a commercial featuring Tipperary hurling supporters condoned irresponsible behaviour by showing fans standing in the bus. As a professional bus driver, he considered it unacceptable to show passengers standing up while travelling on a moving bus.