Welcome to the ASA

The ASA is the UK's independent regulator of advertising across all media, now including marketing on websites. We work to ensure ads are legal, decent, honest and truthful by applying the Advertising Codes.

Advice and guidance for Advertisers

Access the UK Advertising Codes, online tools and details of training events on the CAP website.

Find out more about the bespoke copy advice service on the Copy Advice website.

Complaint about your ad? Find out what happens next.

“The ASA is 50 years old this year ”

“It can take just one complaint to change or remove a problematic ad”

“We dealt with 31,458 complaints in 2011”

“UK Advertising Codes are some of the strictest in the world ”

“Complaints to ASA account for less than 1% of total ads seen each year”

“4,591 ads were changed or withdrawn in 2011 as a result of our action”

“Ads on the internet are subject to the same rules as ads in other media”

Latest adjudications

ABC II Ltd t/a Aldermartin Baines & Cuthbert

A radio ad, for an estate agent, which appeared in January 2012, included a voice-over that...

Advantage Marketing Corporation Ltd t/a Forever Active

A TV ad, for mobility scooters, showed various people driving five-wheel scooters. The voice-over...

Belvoir Chelmsford

A website for a letting agent, seen on www.belvoirlettings.com on 21 February 2012, provided...

Breakspear Medical Group Ltd

The website for a private medical clinic, viewed in October 2011, stated on its "Treatments...

Center Parcs Ltd

A TV ad for Center Parcs resorts, seen on 23 January 2012, showed families taking part in outdoor...

Clinique Laboratories Ltd

A TV ad, for Repairwear Laser Focus wrinkle serum, seen in September 2011, featured a young woman...

CYC Marketing Ltd t/a Britensure

Claims on www.britensure.thesafetransaction.com, a website offering a teeth whitening treatment,...

Fasthosts Internet Ltd

The website ad (a) on www.fasthosts.co.uk and two magazine ads (b) and (c) in industry facing...

Global Grange Ltd t/a Grange Hotels

The website www.grangehotels.com, visited on 6 September and 21 December 2011, quoted prices for...

Greenpeace UK Ltd

Claims on "Redecorate a power station chimney" page on www.greenpeacegiving.org.uk on...

gumtree.com Ltd

A TV ad for Gumtree, seen on 1 February 2011, featured a man swapping his car for a bag of money....

Manhattan Bar

An ad, for a club night, was viewed on Manhattan Bar's Facebook page on 18 January 2012 and was...

Nationwide Building Society

A TV ad for Nationwide Building Society, broadcast in March 2012, included a voice-over which...

Paddy Power plc

A TV ad for Paddy Power, seen in February 2012, had a voice-over which stated "Ian Reed...

Pass Ur Test

Claims on the Pass Ur Test website, viewed on 31 October 2011, included, on the 'prices' page,...

Racing UK Ltd

A direct mailing from Racing UK Ltd, a subscription TV channel received in March 2012, promoted...

Richard Steel & Partners Ltd

a. A regional magazine ad in November 2010 for a funeral directors was headed "Richard Steel...

SpicerHaart Group Ltd t/a Darlows

Two ads in May 2011 for an estate agent, Darlows of Llanishen:a. A leaflet ad included the text...

TalkTalk Telecom Ltd t/a TalkTalk

A speed checking facility, for a broadband service, was viewed on 10 December 2011 on the...

The Fresh Cosmetic Company t/a strawberrynet.com

Claims on uk.strawberrynet.com website on 20 January 2012 for three Clarins products stated...

WageDayAdvance Ltd

A TV ad for a pay-day loan service was viewed in February 2012, and was presented in the style of...

Hot topics

Broadband: A need for speed

As businesses in the highly competitive telecommunications sector advertise ever higher broadband speeds, the advertising rules and the ASA have had to adapt to keep pace with this ever evolving market.

Children and advertising

Discover how the ASA are working to ensure that children are not exposed to harmful or inappropriate advertising.

Alcohol advertising

Alcohol advertisements are subject to stringent rules that are designed to ensure it is promoted in a socially responsible way and to protect young people.

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