Home » UK ISP News Archive » Article Tag: Advertising Standards (309 Posts)

Articles for Category Tag - Advertising Standards

Ads Watchdog Bans EE’s Misleading No.1 UK 5G Network Claims

23rd August, 2023 (8 Comments)

A series of complaints, most of which came from rivals Three UK and Vodafone, has prompted the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to investigate and ban several old adverts for EE’s mobile network over “misleading” promotions, which claimed that it was the “No.1” network for 5G.

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What is “Fibre” Broadband? UK ISPs Respond to Ofcom’s Call for Clarity

22nd August, 2023 (56 Comments)

A few months ago Ofcom launched a new consultation that proposed to only allow broadband ISPs to use the terms “fibre” and “full-fibre” on their sites and in contracts “if their network uses fibre-optic cables all the way from the exchange to the home” (FTTP). But feedback suggests that the biggest providers are not supportive.

Doorstep Scammers Posing as Council Reps to Sell UK Broadband

18th August, 2023 (8 Comments)

Residents in the West Midland’s city of Wolverhampton have been warned by the local city council to be on the lookout for doorstep scammers, some of which have recently been posing as council employees in an attempt to entice people to switch their ISP for free broadband.

ASA Bans Ads for UK ISP 6G Internet Over 6G Mobile Confusion

16th August, 2023 (22 Comments)

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned several adverts for UK fixed wireless broadband ISP 6G Internet (IX Wireless) after they were found to have caused confusing by “misleadingly implying that a sixth-generation mobile network existed and was able to be used by consumers.” Awkward.

ASA UK Bans Sky Business Broadband Advert After BT Complaint

26th July, 2023 (8 Comments)

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned a website advert for a Sky Business broadband package – displayed in January 2023 – after BT complained that it had made a “misleading” price comparison, which involved a claim that customers could “SAVE OVER £750” by switching to Sky’s package.

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ASA Ban Misleading Vodafone UK Phone Buy-Back Ads After Sky Complain

5th July, 2023 (6 Comments)

A complaint by Sky (Sky Mobile) has resulted in the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banning a multitude of Vodafone’s adverts for misleadingly claiming to offer the “UK’s only Phone Buy-Back Guarantee“, which is despite the fact that they are not the only UK company to guarantee to buy back the phones they sold.

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New UK Ad Rules to Tackle Mid-Contract Broadband Price Hikes UPDATE2

15th June, 2023 (22 Comments)

The UK Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP and BCAP) – sister bodies to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) – have today set out new guidance for how broadband ISPs and mobile operators should communicate mid-contract prices hikes to consumers, which will make such policies clearer and more transparent.

Starlink UK Customers Complain of Broadband Speed Throttling UPDATE

6th June, 2023 (29 Comments)

Some customers of SpaceX’s popular Starlink broadband ISP in the UK have started reporting that their download speeds are being throttled, often to around 50Mbps, when they hit a certain threshold. So it’s perhaps no coincidence that they’ve also launched a ‘PRIORITY – 1TB‘ plan for £180.

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BT Gripe Gets UK Sky Broadband WiFi Guarantee TV Ad Banned

24th May, 2023 (4 Comments)

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned a minions themed TV advert for UK ISP Sky Broadband, specifically their “Wall to Wall Wi-Fi Guarantee“, after BT complained it “misleadingly implied that customers would receive seamless Wi-Fi in every room of a house“, when in fact they wouldn’t and it didn’t include any extenders or boosters.

Dear UK Broadband ISPs – Make Your Post Contract Prices Clear

12th April, 2023 (25 Comments)

We’ve lost count now of how many times ISPreview has had to say this over the years, but there are still far too many broadband ISPs in the UK – particularly larger players – that fail to clearly inform their customers of how much their package will cost post-contract. As a result, consumers often feel misled when it comes time to re-contract.

CMA Clamps Down on Online UK Rip-offs and Misleading Prices

29th March, 2023 (7 Comments)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today set out its “red lines” for businesses (including broadband and mobile providers) that make use of “price reduction” and “urgency claims” when selling their products and services to UK consumers. People are also being encouraged to report online rip-offs via a new form.

Ofcom UK Clamps Down on Misleading Uses of “Fibre” Broadband UPDATE2

8th March, 2023 (80 Comments)

Good news. The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today proposed new guidance that would only allow broadband ISPs to use the terms “fibre” and “full-fibre” on their websites and in contracts “if their network uses fibre-optic cables all the way from the exchange to the home” (i.e. FTTP).

Hyperoptic’s Full Fibre Broadband Covers 1.15 Million UK Homes

14th February, 2023 (8 Comments)

Broadband ISP Hyperoptic has today confirmed that their “full fibre” (FTTP/B) network now covers 1.15 million UK homes, which will need to almost double in order to hit their goal of 2 million by the end of 2023. The provider has also launched a TV campaign to criticise ISPs that adopt “misleading” mid-contract price hikes.

Ofcom UK Reviews Mid-Contract Broadband ISP Price Hikes UPDATE2

9th February, 2023 (57 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today officially launched a new review that will finally examine whether inflation-linked mid-contract price rises give phone and broadband ISP customers “sufficient certainty and clarity about what they can expect to pay.”

ASA Ban Instagram Ad that Vodafone UK Claimed Wasn’t Marketing

8th February, 2023 (2 Comments)

The question of what is and is not a marketing communication cropped up again after the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned an Instagram post and story linked to mobile and broadband provider Vodafone, which is despite the operator claiming they did not believe that the posts were advertorials.

BT Suspend Doorstep Selling on Isle of Wight After Serious Complaint

7th February, 2023 (27 Comments)

BT (EE) has suspended doorstep selling on the Isle of Wight, which was being conducted on their behalf by a third-party firm ‘Money Expert‘, after rival broadband ISP WightFibre complained that the sellers had allegedly been making some very dishonest claims about the operator.

House of Lords Debates Rising Broadband Prices from UK ISPs

3rd February, 2023 (8 Comments)

A short but interesting debate took place yesterday in the House of Lords (Parliament), which saw many cross-party peers call on the UK government – represented by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (DCMS) – to do more to help tackle the impact of recent above-inflation price hikes by broadband ISPs.