The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) last week
upheld two complaints about an SMS message sent by mobile phone
retailer The Carphone Warehouse to its customers.
In June, the company sent a message which said, "For fantastic
free handsets, inc up to 6 months free line rental or a free DVD
player, call Carphone Warehouse on ... t&c's apply ...".
The first complaint said that the claim of a "free DVD player"
was misleading, because the message did not clearly state a new
mobile phone contract was needed to receive the player, while the
second said that the message was sent without consumer consent.
The ASA lacks legal powers, but most advertisers abide by its
judgments, said ASA press spokeswoman Claire Forbes.
As a last resort, the ASA can refer a case to the Office of Fair
Trading which can then investigate legal proceedings.
The first complaint was upheld because the need for a new
contract to receive a DVD player was a significant condition that
should have been spelled out, and the words "t&c's apply" were
insufficient.
In the future, the ASA asked that Carphone Warehouse make such
conditions clear and state any other significant conditions.
On the second complaint, Carphone Warehouse claimed an external
company sent the message on its behalf, after personal information,
including mobile phone numbers, was collected via a national
shopping survey.
Survey participants, according to Carphone Warehouse, gave
permission for their information to be used by selecting not to opt
out of marketing communications when completing the survey.
A customer filed the complaints with the ASA and asked to opt
out of marketing communications after receiving the message.
However, the message was sent shortly after new rules were put
in place at the ASA, requiring explicit opt-in from consumers
before they receive promotional messages, Forbes said.
The Carphone Warehouse was not immediately available for
comment.
Gillian Law writes for IDG News Service