ASCI Upholds Complaints Against Misleading Ads Of Amazon, Paytm, Philips And 97 Others

The watchdog of advertisement fraternity, Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) in November 2016, has upheld complaints against 100 out of 152 companies for producing misleading advertisements.

The case involves some popular brands including Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), Amazon, Paytm, Indigo Airlines, Emami, Philips, Bajaj Auto and others.

In November, the ASCI had received complaints against 152 companies, out of which it upheld 100 – 43 in healthcare category, 17 in education, 11 in personal care, 7 in food and beverages and 6 in the e-commerce segment.

The major brands against whom the complaints were upheld

• Bajaj Auto for its two-wheeler TV commercial of Pulsar motorcycles which showed the rider performing stunts in regular traffic in the presence of bystanders. The ad encourages dangerous practices in public.
• Paytm. It had claimed 50 per cent cashback on booking two movie tickets, which is “misleading by ambiguity”.
• Amazon was pulled up for its HTC Desire 620G Dual Sim ad.
• Cleartrip was for the pre-booking of flights ad.
• FMCG major HUL. Its ads of Lakme Youth Infinity range of products are misleading since there is no substantiation to the claims that it “keeps the contoured look of youth”.
• Emami for its ad of Keshking Ayurvedic Oil and Shampoo, which had claimed that it was the “Ultimate Solution for Hair Fall”.
• Phillips Electronics ad as their terms and conditions were incomprehensible and found to be in an illegible font size.

Also read: Are You A Victim Of Misleading Advertisement ? Complain Against It

Other brands

Healthcare

The 43 healthcare companies were upheld by the ASCI for their ads that were termed either misleading or false or not adequately scientifically substantiated.

Some of the health care products or services advertisements also contravened provisions of the Drug & Magic Remedies Act and Chapter 1.1 and III.4 of the ASCI Code.

The names include Able Exports (Feel fresh mouth care), Shathayu Ayurveda, J&J DeChane Laboratories, Shakshii Wellness, Care Institute of Medical Sciences, Goodlife Wellness, Sujatha Bio-Tech (Memory Vita Focus Factor), Amplifon India, Mankind Limited (Gas-O-Fast) Pharma, Quantum Naturals (QuantoDiab Forte), Dr. Batra’s Homeopathy Family Clinic, Deepak Ayurveda, Sanat Products (Uplat), Lifespan Clinic India (Lifespan Diabetes Clinics), Bansal Hospital, The Slimming Centre, Medipulse Hospital, Shretej Slimming Centre, Kolors Health Care India, S10 Health Sports Medicine Centre, Proyurveda Lifesciences, JeewanJyoti Pharmacy, Nova Pulse IVF Clinic (Nova IVI Fertility) and Richfeel Health & Beauty (Richfeel Trichology Centre Hair and Scalp Clinic-Hair Thinning Treatment-Anagrow), Velvette International Pharma Products (Memory Plus Tonic), Lifezen Healthcare’s (Tuska Calcium Tablets) and (EyeSpaeyedrops), Bhavishi Fertility Institute, Good Life Wellness (Good Life Wellness Products), Raja Baldev Das Birla Hospital, PMC Hospital, Positive Homeopathy, Akanksha Ayurveda & Panchakarma, Perfect Point, Jaipur Physiotherapy, Quantum Naturals (Quanto Max), AarogyamAyurPanch Hospital & Research Centre, Kangra Herb, twice for different ads, SDI Herbo-Chem (Zosh Capsules/Oil), American Homeo Lab, Sri Ayurveda Ganapati and Dr. Dassan’s Ayurvedic Herbal (Re Renal).

Education

17 advertisers in the education sector were pulled up mostly because their claims that they provide ‘100 per cent placement’ or are No.1 in their respective fields.

The names include Swadesh Classes, Orane Institute of Beauty & Wellness, Army Institute of Management, Institute of professional education and research , Buddha Institute of Technology (BIT), Panipat Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dexter Academy, Xavier University Bhubaneswar, Sarthik Industrial Training Institute, Banaras Institute of Engineering & Technology, Indian fire and Nursing School, Northern Group of Institute- (Northern Institute of Engineering Technical Campus), Arcot Sri Mahalakshmi Women’s College, RICS School of Built Environment Amity University, Koustuv Technical Campus Koustuv Institute of Self Domain & College of Engg, DRIEMS Group Of Institutions- DRIEMS School of Hotel Management and Pathfinder Institute of Agriculture.

Personal Care

The list involves 11 advertisers including Anchor Health & Beauty Care (New Anchor health plus), Emami Limited (Keshking), Greek Retail Inocos Herbal Industries (Radyance Skin Brightening Complex) and (Radyance Skin Brightening Serum), Torque Pharmaceuticals (U B Fair), Hindustan Unilever (Lakme Youth Infinity Range of Products), Advanced Beauty & Cosmetic Clinic (Minus Cosmetic), Marico (Parachute Advanced Coconut Hair Oil), Ruturaj Ayurvedic Gruh Udyog (Ruturaj Herbal Shampoo), Aswini Homeo & Ayurvedic Products (Aswini Hair Oil) and Emami (Keshking Ayurvedic Oil and Shampoo).

Food and Beverage

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (Horlicks Oats), The Nilgiri Dairy Farm (Nilgiris Golden Bakes Cookies – Almond & Choco-chip), Mystic Aromatics (Areca Tea), Vimal Oil & Foods (Vimal Refined Sunflower Oil), Pankaj Industries (Gulab Sungold Refined Sunflower Oil), Kanodia Oil Mills (Kanodia Rice Bran Oil) and Zero Enthalpy Labs (Zevia Sweetener).

E-Commerce

The e-commerce brands came under ASCI scanner include Amazon India (HTC Desire 620G Dual Sim), Trendsutra Platform Services (Pepperfry.com), Cleartrip, Accelyst Solutions (Freecharge), One 97 Communications (Paytm) and Magicbricks.com.

Other Brands

Safechem Industries (Sparkle Dishwash Tub), Bombay Barbeque, Greendust (Mee Audio Sport-F1 M3P In-ear Headphones), BlizzBiosculpting, Bridgestone India (Ecopia Tyres), Bajaj Auto (Bajaj Pulsar) twice for different ads, Aditya Birla Management Corporation (Idea Cellular), Lico Group (Licostyle Shoes), Philips Electronics India (Philips Appliances), InterGlobe Aviation (Indigo Airlines), Swajal Water, SeaGreen Distributions (Nano Fixit), J.G. Hosiery (Amul Macho), Emerald Jewel Industry India and Global Consumer Products (DND Aeromax Coil Diffuser).

The Logical Indian encourages the community members to lodge complaints against advertisements that are misleading the customers. You can register your complaint at the ASCI website.