Comms Dealer ‘hand-gun’ ad rapped by ASA

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has asked telecommunications company Comms Dealer to withdraw its “irresponsibly aggressive” press ad, because it appeared on the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The ad, created by Pavilion Communications, shows a picture of a hand-gun, with the strapline: “When we see our competitors struggling we finish them off… an aggressive approach that has allowed us to more than treble our business.”

The ad, created by HHCL & Partners, shows a man being punched in the face by another man. Another shows a man being punched in the face by a woman. Both carry the strapline: “When your employees discover that their internet connection could be 140 times faster.”

The ad received 15 complaints.

The ruling follows an objection to npower’s use of the slogan on a consumer bill.

According to the ASA, the claim is misleading because npower had not shown that it had measures in place to lower bills.

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