How can a number which costs MORE to call than a standard 01 or 02 number (this one is, surprise, surprise, a 5p per minute at all times number), ever be described as 'Lo-Call'?

NGMsGhost wrote on Jun 20^th, 2007 at 10:08am:

Done.

Quote:

derrick wrote on Jun 20^th, 2007 at 12:27pm:


The ASA do police websites that sell products but they do not police websites that merely provide information (eg Police or local Council).

So it depends wheter the number appeared on part of the Makro website that is also selling you a product or not.

NGMsGhost wrote on Jun 20^th, 2007 at 12:32pm:



From ASA website:-
Claims on websites
In general, misleading claims on companies' websites should be reported to your local trading standards department (www.tradingstandards.gov.uk) ;

http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/about/Guided+Tours/Consumers/What+types+of+ads+and+pro...

I have had various correspondence with ASA, and they have always told me that claims against websites do not come under their remit and direct me to T S, who as we all know are not interested.

However I await your reply from them re the complaint you have made to them.

Just received the following from ASA, re my complaint to the about Windsor Telecom still describing  0845 as "local rate" despite ASA's ruling against them in January 2006:-

Please Quote: A07-33******* 2 July 2007

Dear Mr

WINDSOR TELECOM PLC

Thank you for taking the time to contact us on 21 June.  I am sorry for the delay in responding to you.  Unfortunately, we did not seem to receive your original complaint.

I understand that you object to claims made on the Windsor Telecom website, which promote 0845 business numbers as available for the local rate.  I am sorry but we are unable to deal with your complaint because our Code only applies to certain kinds of material on websites.  They are:      
·      online advertisements in space that has been sold by the website owner to a third party; e.g. banner and pop-up ads
·      sponsored search results (i.e. the links advertisers pay search engines to offer when you enter particular search terms) and
·      sales promotions.  We regulate these wherever they appear, including in advertisers’ websites or e-mails.  (Examples of sales promotions are free gifts and prize competitions; simple price cuts and savings claims are not sales promotions and we cannot investigate them.)

The Code does not apply to other parts of companies’ or organisations’ websites because either they are forms of editorial material (over which the ASA does not have jurisdiction) or they carry material that consumers have chosen to access in much the same way as they would walk into a shop and ask for information.  (The ASA is not entitled to regulate in-store displays.)

Though, as you are aware, the ASA has adjudicated against this organisation in the past for making similar claims, we previously upheld complaints based on promotional emails sent to consumers.  As explained above, the ASA has no authority to regulate claims made on a company’s own website.  If you should see similar claims being made in advertising material for this company, please contact us.

If you wished to take your specific complaint about information provided on the Windsor Telecom website further, you could try taking it up with your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Trading Standards Department whose details can be obtained from your local council or phone book.  Or you might find their websites useful: www.tradingstandards.gov.uk and www.lga.gov.uk.

I am sorry that we were unable to help you on this occasion, but I hope that you find this information useful.

Yours sincerely



Andrea Weldon
Complaints Executive
andreaw@asa.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7492 2163
Fax: 020 7242 3696

We have used the information you have given us, together with other information from or about you, to deal with your complaint.  We may contact you to assess the quality of our services or to give you information about our activities, which might interest you.  If you do not want to be contacted for that purpose, please let our Data Protection Officer know at the above address or by e-mail at data.protection@asa.org.uk.  For further information about our Data Protection Policy please refer to our website www.asa.org.uk .


And like I have said on previous occasions, TS will do nothing, and I cannot see what Citizens Advice can do

NGMsGhost wrote on Jul 5^th, 2007 at 10:06am:



Last year I went through months of attempting to get our local TS, (Lancashire), to investigate some of these abusers, to no avail, I went through all the relevant procedures, I took them to the local tribunal and even complained to the Local Government Ombudsman, followed by their internal review, all went against me,they will not investigate these claims as "they don't have the resources" and "Ofcom are looking into it".

Local Government Ombudsman will not even talk to me, Anne Seex has told her staff not to speak to me and she will not answer emails.

These are publicly funded bodies and like Ofcom do not give a monkeys about their paymasters,(the taxpayers).

Whilst this does not help you immediately is there a Costco near you? They use geographic numbers - and offer excellent service.