Companies rapped for misleading ads

Aer Lingus and Vodafone are among 14 companies that have been rapped for false and misleading adverts.

The airline, in an email to one subsequent complainant, had sent an email offering, for five days, 50% off every seat from London to a range of destinations in Ireland during the period December 1 to March 25.

But, in a complaint to the Advertising Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI), the person said he tried to book a flight home for his friend from the UK to Ireland for Christmas 2014, but could not avail of the discount. It was only when he looked at the terms and conditions attached to the offer, which he considered to be in small print, he discovered the Christmas period was excluded.