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.

He pointed out the advert was misleading as it guaranteed 50% off “every seat” from the offer period.

In its decision to uphold the complaint, the ASAI expressed its disappointment at the advertiser’s “failure to respond in any substantial way to the complaint” and said the advert should not reappear in its current format.

A complaint against Vodafone was also upheld concerning a leaflet offer of ‘Superfast’ broadband.

The complainant said, after switching to Vodafone, he noticed his speed was less than 1Mb. When he asked Vodafone about this, he was informed his phone line could only support 2Mb speeds without congestion.

He said the reference to “Superfast” broadband was misleading as Vodafone was aware of the limitations of his line when they advertised and sold the product.

Vodafone stated they always ensure that any statement in relation to speed was qualified by use of the words “up to” and that this qualification was expanded upon in their terms and conditions on their website where they note that the actual line speed was dependent on distance and line quality.

However, the ASAI upheld the complaint.

The complaints had been among 14 upheld, out of 18 submitted.