Advertising Standards Authority Results
This is a list of our Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) complaints and their outcomes.
There are essentially two ways the ASA deals with complaints:
- Formal investigation, leading to an adjudication being published;
- Informally resolved case, where only the advertiser's name and basic details are published.
However, some complaints are dealt with by their Compliance Team with no details being published on the ASA's website.
Note that it is the ASA that decides whether any complaint is valid or not and it is the ASA that assesses the evidence and decides the outcome according to the criteria laid down in the CAP Code and their procedures.
We have no say in deciding these outcomes. Note also that any decision an advertiser makes about the future of their business or how they choose to conduct it after any complaint is entirely a matter for them.
The dates refer to the dates of publication of the adjudications or informally resolved case.
We will update this list as new complaints are published.
Summary
In summary:
- 18 upheld adjudications
- 3 partly upheld adjudications
- 1 not upheld adjudication
- 24 informally resolved cases
- 95 issues investigated
- 264 instances of CAP Code breached identified
- 20 instances of CAP Code not breached identified
- 70 breaches of CAP Code 3.1 Misleading advertising
- 67 breaches of CAP Code 3.7 Substantiation (ie where the advertiser was unable to substantiate the claims made)
- 86 breaches of the CAP Codes on medical claims
The following chart shows the various sections of the CAP Code and the number of points found to be in breach and not in breach of these sections, as identified by the ASA. It also includes the number of informally resolved cases.
Adjudications
Adjudications are published when the ASA has decided to investigate the complaint formally and ask the advertiser for evidence to substantiate the claims made. The adjudication details the issues identified by the ASA, details of the advertiser's response, the ASA's assessment of that response and its decision, citing any CAP Codes that have been breached. The Nightingale Collaboration is always identified as the complainant.
Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
University College London Hospitals: Medical and Clinical Hypnosis 09 January 2013
University College London Hospitals: Acupuncture 12 June 2013
University College London Hospitals: Western Herbal Medicine 23 October 2013
What Doctors Don’t Tell You
Radiant Life Technologies 12 December 2012
Medical Thermal Imaging Ltd 09 January 2013
Stetzer Electric Inc 16 January 2013
Good Health Naturally 16 January 2013
BEP Technology Ltd 06 February 2013
Dulwich Health Ltd 06 February 2013
Harmony United Ltd 13 February 2013
International Antiaging Systems Ltd 13 February 2013
Dulwich Health Ltd 27 February 2013
Bicom UK LLP 28 January 2015
Life Long Products 27 May 2015
Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century
Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century 03 July 2013
Homeopathy
Ainsworths (London) Ltd 27 July 2011
Although the following two complaints were not made by the Nightingale Collaboration, they were instigated by the ASA as a result of our homeopathy campaign.
Steve Scrutton Homeopathy 08 August 2012
Society of Homeopaths 03 July 2013
Again, this complaint was not made by us, but is relevant in light of the one above.
Steve Scrutton Homeopathy 18 September 2013
Reflexology
Jackie Ginger Reflexology 28 September 2011
The Reflex Clinic 26 October 2011
Bristol-reflexology.co.uk 30 November 2011
Craniosacral Therapy
Being in Stillness 02 November 2011
Being in Stillness 01 August 2012
Chiropractic
Kingsbridge Chiropractic Clinic 12 November 2014
Informally resolved cases
Informally resolved cases are when the ASA have taken the matter up informally with the advertiser, who has then agreed to withdraw or amend the advert. For these, no details of complaint other than the name of the advertiser, the type of publication and the category are published by the ASA.
Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
Integrated Medical Centre Ltd 03 April 2013
Marigold Footcare Ltd 24 April 2013
The Marigold Trust 24 April 2013
University College London Hospitals T/a Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine 07 August 2013
Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 07 May 2014
What Doctors Don’t Tell You
Learnbuteyko.co.uk 14 November 2012
Wholistic Research Company Ltd 14 November 2012
Asthma Care Kent 05 December 2012
General Naturopathic Council Ltd 05 December 2012
Energy for Health Ltd 19 December 2012
James White Drinks Ltd 19 December 2012
Abundance & Health Ltd T/a Lypo-Spheric Nutrients 09 January 2013
Simply Vital Ltd 09 January 2013
Clarus 23 January 2013
The British Institute for Allergy and Environmental Therapy 13 March 2013
Abundance & Health Ltd t/a Lypo-Spheric Nutrients 19 June 2013
PJO Enterprises Ltd t/a FirZone.co.uk 05 November 2014
Life Long Products 12 August 2015
Osteopathy
The Family Practice Osteopaths Bristol 15 May 2013
Hereford Clinic of Osteopathy & Complementary Medicine 22 May 2013
Charles Lim 19 June 2013
Homeopathy
Holland & Barrett Retail Ltd 13 June 2012
Acupuncture
The British Medical Acupuncture Society 20 August 2014
Last updated: 12 August 2015
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