ASA Adjudication on JK Data Recruitment

Ad

Two online recruitment ads offered data entry and customer service positions at offices in Doncaster and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Issue

The complainant challenged whether the ads were misleading, because:

1. he had applied on a number of occasions and had never received an interview and did not believe the positions advertised were genuine;

2. he believed applicants were required to phone an 0844 telephone number after submitting their CVs; there was therefore a charge to receive information about the positions; and

3. he did not believe they had offices in Doncaster and Newcastle upon Tyne.

The ASA challenged whether:

4. the ads were misleading because they failed to include the full name and contact details of the advertiser; and

5. the positions were office-based positions, as stated in the ad, or home-working schemes.

CAP Code (Edition 11)

Response

JK Data Recruitment (JK Data) did not respond to the ASA's enquiries.

Assessment

1. - 5. Upheld

The ASA was concerned by JK Data's lack of response and apparent disregard for the Code, which was a breach of CAP Code clause 2.6 (Non-response).  We reminded them of their responsibility to respond promptly to our enquiries and told them to do so in future.

Because JK Data did not provide evidence to support the claims that the positions they offered were genuine, office-based positions and that they had offices in Doncaster and Newcastle upon Tyne, we considered that the claims in the ads had not been substantiated and concluded that the ads were misleading.  We reminded them that future ads should include the advertisers full name and contact details and make clear that applicants had to call a 0844 phone number to obtain further information.

The ads breached CAP Code clauses 2.6 (Non-response), 3.1 (Substantiation), 7.1 (Truthfulness), 52.2 and 52.3 (Employment and business opportunities).

Action

The ads must not appear again in their current form.

Adjudication of the ASA Council (Non-broadcast)