Ad description
A website for a Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) training course, in June 2011, featured the "EDI Approved Centre" logo.
Issue
The complainant challenged whether the website was misleading, because they understood the advertiser had had their EDI accreditation removed and were therefore no longer permitted to teach the PTLLS course.
Response
SPTI provided documentation that they said showed they were EDI accredited.
Assessment
Upheld
The ASA noted the documentation provided by SPTI. However, we understood that SPTI's approval to teach the PTLLS course had been withdrawn by EDI in May 2011, and was not reinstated until July 2011 after they had completed the approval process. We noted that the EDI Approved Centre logo remained on SPTI's website throughout that period, and we considered that the logo should have been removed until EDI approval was reinstated in order that consumers would be clear about SPTI's accredited status. Because SPTI did not have EDI accreditation for the PTLLS course at the time the website appeared, we concluded that the use of the EDI Approved Centre logo at that time was misleading.
The ad breached CAP Code (Edition 12) rules 3.1 (Misleading advertising), 3.7 (Substantiation) and 3.50 (Endorsements and testimonials).
Action
We told SPTI to remove the EDI Approve Centre Logo if they no longer held current accreditation from EDI.
