Vodafone welcomes Advertising Standards Authority ruling

Tuesday, 2 February 2016, 4:38 pm
Press Release: Vodafone

February 2, 2016

Vodafone welcomes Advertising Standards Authority ruling

Vodafone welcomes Advertising Standards Authority ruling - confirming Vodafone offers consumers New Zealand’s lowest standard Prepay rates

Vodafone has welcomed an Advertising Standards Authority ruling that Warehouse Mobile made advertising claims which were likely to mislead or deceive consumers, and were also in breach of the advertising Code of Ethics.

In the decision released today, the Authority said Warehouse Mobile created a misleading representation with its in-store, billboard and bus advertising between December 18 and January 20, 2016 – claiming it offered consumers ‘NZ’s lowest standard prepay rates’.

Vodafone Consumer Director Matt Williams said Vodafone worked incredibly hard to offer great value deals to kiwis, including its Prepay customers. He said the Warehouse Mobile claim did not stack up – with Vodafone currently offering a Pay and Go per TXT rate of 1c per TXT.

“We welcome today’s decision from the Advertising Standards Authority. Vodafone’s committed to providing our customers with great value Prepay deals, ensuring the rates we offer are always as competitive as possible”.

Vodafone initially raised questions with Warehouse Mobile over its advertising claim, after introducing a new rate for Vodafone Pay and Go TXTs on December 18, 2015. Vodafone sought further assistance from the Authority when Warehouse Mobile continued to say it offered consumers ‘NZ’s lowest standard prepay rates’ in billboard, in-store and bus advertising.

In its decision, the Authority said Warehouse Mobile had been given “a reasonable opportunity to remove the remaining advertisements from circulation and as the claim could not be adequately substantiated this impaired public confidence in advertising”.

ENDS

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