Advertising Standards complaints and adjudications
Do you ever get annoyed at adverts or see one you think should be challenged? Would you like to get an advert banned? It’s easier than you might think. I often think some are misleading or even make outrageous claims. The advertising standards web site publishes all the complaints it receives from the public as well as from rival companies.
The ASA adjudications page shows in detail how it investigated the complaint, what the advertisers said in their defence and then whether they upheld or rejected the complaint. If it was upheld, they describe what action they took – although it’s mostly just a slap on the wrist and a “don’t do it again” rebuke.
However, they can’t run the ad again, which may at least be financially consequential for the offenders. Of course much of the time the damage has already been done and the false impression (to the advertiser’s benefit) has already been planted into millions of minds.
This site might be more interesting than you’d expect. Some of the ads complained about are listed under the parent companies name, which you might not have heard of or might not realise have anything to do with the product so it’s often worth clicking on unknown names to see what the complaint was.
The most amazing thing about it is that many of the adjudications, where an advert gets banned, are a result of just one person complaining. Power to the people.
ASA adjudications
BBC news – Top 10 most controversial adverts
Written by Andy(ArT)Trigg on April 28th, 2008 with
2 comments
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#1. May 14th, 2008, at 11:55 AM.
Here’s a complaint about a poster for the TV programme “Skins”, full of sexy and provocative pictures. It’s interesting to see that 42 people complained. I like the fact that even one complaint triggers an investigation – we have the power.
It’s fascinating to me when I’ve seen the adverts concerned and think ” I remember that”. Then to see how many complained, and what about.
Finally I find it interesting to see how the company defended itself and were they guilty or not guilty as charged.
ASA Adjudications. Channel Four Television Company Ltd t/a E4