Keep a watch on misleading advertisements

Print media and TV are always full of advertisemnts. Many times the adverisers go overboard in their claims and their advertisements run the risk of being considered false, misleading, indecent, illegal, leading to unsafe practices, or unfair to competition. Consumers are having an increasing disbelief in advertising and the resentment is growing against sech advertisements. Many consumers want to complain but wonder where they should make the complaint. Let me give you some information on this.

Advertising Standards Council of India is a self regulatory voluntary organization of the advertising industry. It keeps a close watch on advertisements which are considered false, misleading, indecent, illegal, leading to unsafe practices, or unfair to competition. ASCI has adopted a Code for Self-Regulation in Advertising (CLICK to read in ENGLISH or in HINDI. It is a commitment to honest advertising and to fair competition in the market-place. It stands for the protection of the legitimate interests of consumers and all concerned with advertising - advertisers, media, advertising agencies and others who help in the creation or placement of advertisements.

Whenever a consumer feels agrieved of an advertisement he or she can make a complaint to ASCI.

ASCI has launched an e-magazine ASCI EZINE on September 9th 2010. Click here for the inaugural issue

So dear consumers, keep a wath on advertisements and complain if you feel bad about it. In case, you are short of time, bring that ad to the notice of this blog, and we will file the complaint (scg.rti@gmail.com).

Misleading advertisements

Contrary to all expectations, the highly competitive nature of present day market has not brought any value to consumers in terms of either quality or price. India is a very big market and the number of consumers is so large that majority of products and service providers do not bother about the interest of consumer. In fact in today's India, consumer has become a king harassed by every body.

Providers of products and services rely heavily on advertisements. The money they spent on these advertisements is billed to the consumer resulting in increasingly higher costs for consumers without adding any value to their purchases.

This advertisement war has deteriorated to such an extent that a large number of advertisements are giving misleading information. There is no check on the contents of the advertisements. If any consumer wants to approach the advertiser they simply do not know whom to approach. If by luck the right person is located then he either ignores the query or gives some information which further misleads the consumer.

Should such misleading advertisements be allowed? NO

Is there any agency which overseas these advertisements? YES

Advertising Standards Council of India is a self regulatory voluntary organization of the advertising industry. The Role and Functioning of the ASCI & its CCC in dealing with Complaints received from Consumers and Industry, against Advertisements which are considered as False, Misleading, Indecent, Illegal, leading to Unsafe practices, or Unfair to competition, and consequently in contravention of the ASCI Code for Self-Regulation in Advertising.

Protect yourself against such misleading advertisements.