Virgin Media broadband adverts banned for 'misleading' price claims (1 Viewer)

dutchman

Well-Known Member
Two Virgin Media broadband adverts have been banned by the advertising watchdog for misleading consumers.

Since January 2014, companies are supposed to give customers one month's written notice of any mid-contract price increases, and the right to terminate the contract for free.

Virgin Media's website was advertising two offers, one stating: "uSwitch exclusive offer - £50 reward on Big Connection with superfast up to 50Mb broadband and calls... Just £4 a month for 6 months then £17.50 a month + Virgin Phone line (£16.99 a month)... 12 month contract."

The other said: "Big Bang - £25 a month for 12 months then £32 a month - includes Netflix for 6 months ... FREE set-up online only + Virgin Phone line for £16.99 a month."

However when the price hikes came and two customers complained, Virgin Media refuted that the text was misleading. The company told them that there may be an increase in price such as line rental "occasionally" which would impact the majority of customers.

But it didn't know if, when or by how much the core price could increase at the start of their contract. Virgin Media also said the increase in price was advertised approximately two months before implementation, and that the hike only affected standard prices, not promotional ones.

In response, the Advertising Standards Agency has warned Virgin Media to ensure its changes to charges are "clearly and prominently" displayed from now and ruled that the adverts must not appear in their current form again.

"We considered that the monthly price of a contract was likely to be material to consumers when deciding on a telecommunications package, and that they might not choose a particular package if they knew that the monthly cost could increase beyond the amounts stated in the ad, during the minimum term," the ASA said.

"We also told them not to suggest that a price would be fixed for the minimum term of the contract, or for a certain period of time, if that was not the case."
 

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