Ad description

An email from Vitamin T recruitment agency had the subject "Pop Culture Writer needed - 6 month contract". Text in the ad included "I am looking for a Pop Culture Writer for a large technology client in Reading. (There is potential to work from home, this would need to be discussed). Based: Reading, £200-£250 per day, contract for 6 months to start with".

Issue

The complainant, who did not believe the vacancy was genuine, challenged whether the ad was misleading.

Response

Aquent LLC t/a Vitamin T provided the details of the person who was responsible for dealing with their client for this role and of the person who sent the email to several people who were registered with them. They provided a copy of the request from their client giving details of the role in question, which stated that up to three CVs could be submitted by the agency within the specified 48-hour deadline. They also provided a screenshot of the role details from their own database. They were confident that the details in the ad were accurate and that the role was a genuine one. They said that the role was currently being interviewed for.

Assessment

Not upheld

We understood that the complainant was concerned that the vacancy might not be genuine because they were initially told to prepare a CV, but then subsequently told someone had already been placed in the role.

We were provided with evidence from Vitamin T in the form of a screenshot from their database and an email from their client giving details of the role. Both documents contained contact details for their client. We also noted that Vitamin T had a short deadline for submitting a limited number of CVs to their client for consideration. We considered that the evidence provided by Vitamin T demonstrated that the role was genuine and therefore concluded that the ad was not misleading.

We investigated the ad under CAP Code (Edition 12) rules  3.1 3.1 Marketing communications must not materially mislead or be likely to do so.  (Misleading advertising),  3.7 3.7 Before distributing or submitting a marketing communication for publication, marketers must hold documentary evidence to prove claims that consumers are likely to regard as objective and that are capable of objective substantiation. The ASA may regard claims as misleading in the absence of adequate substantiation.  (Substantiation) and  20.2 20.2 Employment marketing communications must relate to genuine vacancies and potential employees must not be asked to pay for information.
Living and working conditions must not be misrepresented. Quoted earnings must be precise; if one has to be made, a forecast must not be unrepresentative. If income is earned from a basic salary and commission, commission only or in some other way, that must be made clear.
 (Employment, homework schemes and business opportunities), but did not find it in breach.

Action

No further action necessary.

CAP Code (Edition 12)

20.2     3.1     3.7    


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