ASCI upheld complaints against 214 misleading ads in March , Airtel still not obeying orders
Advertising sector watchdog ASCI upheld complaints against 214 misleading advertisements, including those of Bharti Airtel, LG Electronics, Snapdeal and Asian Paints, in March.
The Customer Complaints Council (CCC) of Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) received 280 complaints in the month.
The Customer Complaints Council (CCC) of Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) received 280 complaints in the month.
Inspite of ASCI declaring airtel ads are still airing its ookla ads.
June 6, 2017
Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Free Data for 12 months): The advertisement’s claim, “Free data for 12 months, worth Rs. 9000. Switch to Airtel 4G”, is misleading by ambiguity. It was noted that the price currently being used by Airtel for 3 GB data is Rs. 450/-. The prevalent price of ‘free data’ under an actual offer for 12 months is much lower than the price point of Rs. 9000. The said unlimited data packs are not entirely free but they are subject to specific tariff packs for which the customer is required to pay. Furthermore, the data pack is valid for only 28 days and the 12 re-charges of 28 days each do not add up to 12 months.
Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Free Unlimited local + STD calls): In view of the cap of 1200 minutes / week as per advertiser’s fair usage policy, the claim, “Free Unlimited Local + STD calls” is misleading and contravened Chapter I.4 of the ASCI Code as well as Clause 1 of ASCI Guidelines for Disclaimers (“A disclaimer can expand or clarify a claim, make qualifications, or resolve ambiguities, to explain the claim in further details, but should not contradict the material claim made or contradict the main message conveyed by the advertiser or change the dictionary meaning of the words used in the claim as received or perceived by a consumer.”).
April 18, 2017
The regulator also upheld three complaints against leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel for "misleading" claims for free Calls Local + STD and a free upgrade for Airtel-V Fiber.
"The ad claim, "Free Calls Local + STD" cannot be said free as the prevailing price for data without advertised incentive is less i.e. from the consumer's point of view, they have to make a payment of Rs. 149 to avail this offer although they get only 300MB data versus 500MB data," it said.
March 31, 2017
Airtel ordered to pull down 'fastest network' ad after Reliance Jio's complaint
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has asked Airtel to "modify" or "withdraw" the advertisement in which it claims to be "officially the fastest network" after a complaint from rival Reliance Jio.
Jio had alleged that Airtel's claim to be the fastest network was inaccurate and filed a complaint to ASCI. Jio had also raised doubts about the methodology used and alleged that the speed test app Ookla gave such titles for money.
October 2016
While reviewing Bharti Airtel’s ‘best network’ ad, the regulator had observed:
Claims of leading telecom services provider Bharti Airtel as the 'best network' as "incorrect and is misleading by implication" as it connotes many parameters associated with the performance for which different service providers have to compared. "'Transparency' of communication providing input for improvement does not necessarily make any network the best,"
October 2015
Airtel told to withdraw ‘misleading’ 4G ads
Telecom firm says it will take up the matter with the advertising council, confident of getting a favourable response
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has sent a notice to Bharti Airtel Ltd, India’s largest telecom services provider, asking the firm to withdraw its 4G speed challenge advertisement on grounds that it is misleading.
“The claim in the ad, ‘Airtel 4G is the fastest network ever’ and ‘If your network is faster, we will pay your mobile bills for life’, is misleading by omission in the absence of appropriate disclaimers in the print, TV, hoarding advertisements. The advertisement contravened Chapter 1.4 of the code,” said the notice, a copy of which was reviewed by Mint.
By looking this , it is clear that Airtel is not following the rules
