Details - Complaints that were Upheld by the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) From April 2006 to June 2006

     # Intra-Industry Complaints   * ASCI  Member    $ Consumer Representational Organisation
Sr. No.

Advertiser
Product/
Service

Advtg Agency

 Media

Claims / Description
of  Ad/TVC
Complaint

ASCI Code Chapter/CCC Decision
Advertiser’s action

1.
suo motu

McDowell & Company Limited(*)

(RomanoV)

Rediffusion DY&R(*)

Bombay Times(*)

(3/2006)

Ad states - “VonamoR spanking new RomanoV”,  “CD Rack”(in fine print).  
Visual shows - “a tall tumbler bearing the brand name –RomanoV”.

As per complaint, Ad is misleading by ambiguity and is suggestive of a liquor brand.

May  2006
Exparte (absence of comments from the Advertiser).
Chapters I.4, III.4, and III.6.

Ad. campaign suspended temporarily.

2.#

State Bank of India

(SBI Debit Card)

Mudra Comm(*)

HBO channel

(3/2006

Visuals show - “Bholu an ex-pickpocket, going through various stages of rigorous hard work and having dry pieces of bun at the end of the day with a feeling of sadness on his face”. 
Punch line in the TVC - “Welcome to State Bank Debit Card,  Welcome to a cashless world”.

As per complaint, Ad promotes pickpocketing than hard work.

May  2006
Chapters I.4 and III.1(a).

TVC  discontinued.

3.

Voltas Ltd(*)
(Voltas Vertis Gold AC)

Euro RSCG Advtg(*)

Hindustan Times(*)

(4/2006)

Claims - “Most ACs make your skin dry.  Here’s one that keeps  it fresh and healthy”,  “It releases Vitamin C ions that protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays”.

As per complaint, these claims need to be substantiated.

May  2006
Chapter I.1.

Ad campaign stopped.

4.#

Hindustan Lever Ltd(*)

(Wheel Active Colours)

Lowe(*)

Zee(*), Star Plus(*), Star One(*), Sony(*), DD

(2/2006)

Claim - Wheel Active is the “World’s largest selling detergent”
Super -  “Based on tonnage sales of Wheel detergent”.

As per complaint, there is no evidence that the claim can be substantiated.  Claim is false and misleading. 

June  2006
Chapter I.1

Advertiser assured appropriate modification of the claim.

5.

Samsung India Electronics Pvt Ltd(*)
(Samsung LCD TV)

-

Mumbai Mirror(*)

(4/2006)

Ad states - “Crystal vase….Rs.2200.  Samsung LCD TV with crystal clear picture …just Rs.2166.   at an EMI of just Rs.2166”.

As per complaint, Ad is misleading as it suggests that the cost of the Samsung LCD TV is less than the cost of a Crystal vase.

June  2006
Chapter I.4

Advertiser  assured appropriate modification of
the Ad.

6.

Hindustan Lever Ltd(*)

(Lux Body Wash)

J. Walter Thompson(*)

Desk Top Calendar

Copy lines in the calendar   -  “Now every girl can be a **x symbol”,  “**x in the morning and night makes your skin glow”,  “Once a girl has tried **x, she wants it everyday”,  “Girls are trying **x at a very young age”,  “Girls just can’t do without **x”,  “More and more girls are getting addicted to **x”.

As per complaint, this is a cheap and vulgar promotion.

June  2006
Chapter II.

Distribution of the calendar stopped.

“**X”has been registered for the brand “Lux”. 

7.
suo motu

Shaw Wallace Distilleries Ltd

(White Mischief Holidays)

-

Bombay Times(*)

(5/2006)

Ad states –“I’m in the Mood for Mischief”.  
Visuals show -  “X-Ray Vision Sunglasses,  a man wearing Sunglasses and admiring two scantily clad women on a beach”. 

As per complaint, Ad is misleading and suggestive of a liquor brand –White Mischief.

June  2006
Chapter III.6

Ad withdrawn.

8.

Lux Hosiery Industries Ltd

(GenX Premium Briefs)

Lookad (India) Ltd.

Mumbai Mirror(*)

(5/2006)

Visuals - “a semi-nude man apparently being molested by a clothed woman”.
As per complaint, Ad is obscene and may hurt a man’s sensibilities.

June  2006
Chapter II.

Ad withdrawn. 
           

Secretary General | Date:   20th September 2006