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Blueplanet-isp
Business Centre
Empire House
175 Piccadilly, Mayfair
London
W1J 9TB Complaint:
Objection to a magazine advertisement, for adult website franchises, that claimed "UP TO 10 FREE ADULT WEBSITES OF YOUR CHOICE! MAKE £5,000 PER MONTH GUARANTEED INCOME 18 years in the adult entertainment industry says it all!
Operate Your Own On-line Adult/Casino Business ... AT BLUEPLANET WE WANT YOU TO TASTE SUCCESS BEFORE YOU PAY FOR YOUR ADULT WEB SITE." The complainant:
1. objected that the advertisement did not state that customers would be charged an administration fee;
2. challenged the claim "MAKE £5,000 PER MONTH GUARANTEED INCOME" and
3. challenged the claim "Operate Your Own On-line Adult/Casino Business" because the advertisers sold the same website to all customers. Codes Section: 3.1, 7.1, 54.5 (Ed 10)
Adjudication:
1. Complaint upheld
The advertisers said although the advertisement did not state that they levied an administration fee that was stated on their website and was explained to readers who enquired by telephone. The Authority reminded the advertisers of the Codes'' requirement that, where possible, advertisements for business opportunities should contain a clear description of the extent of investors'' commitments, including any financial investment. It considered that, because all investors had to pay the administration fee and the value of that fee was known in advance, the advertisers should make clear, in their advertising, the financial investment readers would be expected to make. The Authority asked the advertisers to amend the advertisement.
2. Complaint upheld
The advertisers said investors were charged £2,100 if their website was earning £5,000 a month within six months; the administration fee counted towards that charge. If an investor''s website did not give an income of £5,000 a month within six months, the customer was not charged £2,100 but the administration fee was retained by the advertisers. The advertisers sent no evidence to prove that investors had earned £5,000 a month or that the £2,100 fee had been waived for investors who failed to earn £5,000 a month within six months. The Authority considered that the advertisers had not substantiated the claim and asked the advertisers to delete it.
3. Complaint not upheld
The advertisers said each investor was given a unique URL and linking codes to their website. They explained that investors chose the content of the site from a portfolio; investors had about 70 options. The advertisers said the content provider paid commission to the investor for each internet user who accessed the content through that investor''s site. The Authority noted each investor had a unique URL and considered that, in the context of an advertisement that offered franchises, the advertisers had justified the claim. |
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