UK : Cloth collection to be graded, sorted & baled for Asia
August 24, 2006 |  |
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) announces Complaint: A leaflet for clothing collection stated "Dear Householder WE NEED YOUR HELP If you have any unwanted Ladies, Gents or Children's Clothing, Bedding, Curtains, Towels, Paired shoes handbags etc., we would be delighted to collect them from you. Once collected the goods will be sorted, graded, baled and sent to Asia.
This creates jobs for the local people helping them become self sufficient not having to rely on state handouts or charity schemes, allowing them to take pride in their ability to provide for themselves and their families."; text in a smaller font continued "If you have any queries please contact the Clothing Collection Help Line. Our collectors cannot accept cash donations as we are not a charity."
The leaflet included the company's trading name and company registration number. The complainant objected that the leaflet was misleading because it implied Combined Trading Services was a charity. Codes Section: 2.6, 3.1, 7.1 (Ed 11)
Adjudication: Upheld Combined Trading Services did not respond in writing to the ASA's enquiries.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) was concerned by Combined Trading Services' lack of response and apparent disregard for the Code, particularly because Trading Standards had confirmed that they were trading from the address we were corresponding with.
We considered that Combined Trading Services' lack of response was a breach of the Code. We reminded them of their responsibility to respond to our enquiries and told them to do so promptly in future.
We asked CAP to inform its media members of the problem with Combined Trading Services.
The ad breached CAP Code clause 2.6 (Non-response).
Complaint not upheld
We noted the ad included the text "Our collectors cannot accept cash donations as we are not a charity" and considered that made sufficiently clear that Combined Trading Services were not a charity.
We investigated the ad under CAP Code clause 7.1(Truthfulness), but did not find it in breach. | | | | Advertising Standards Authority |  |
| |
|
|
|