Account comparisons misleading, rules ASA

An Alliance & Leicester ad that compared its accounts to those of Lloyds TSB has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority.

The TV and press ads for the Premier Regular Saver account with 12% interest contrasted the rate with an 8% rate offered by its rival.

But Lloyds TSB complained that the accounts were not the same as its product allowed withdrawals, while A&L’s was a fixed term deposit account with no withdrawals and was not available to existing current account holders.

A&L said it based its comparison in part on a summary of the account on Moneyfacts.co.uk. The ASA ruled that the accounts could not be compared in the ads and said they could not be shown again.

A front page promotion in The Daily Telegraph in association with Works with Water has been banned by the ASA for making medicinal claims and possibly discouraging readers from seeking medical treatment. The ad claimed the spring water brand lowered blood pressure.

The copy should have stated that the drink could “help” to lower blood pressure, said the ASA. The newspaper and Works With Water said the omission was the result of a proofing error.

A complaint to the ASA by chairlift brand Minivator against rival Stannah has been upheld, forcing Stannah to withdraw an ad claiming it had 140 years of experience in the market. In fact, it began making chairlifts in 1975.