Rulings (48)
  • Back to Normal

    • Upheld
    • Website (own site)
    • 02 March 2022

    A website post and GoFundMe page for the anti-lockdown campaign group Back to Normal was banned for making misleading claims about the effectiveness of ivermectin in treating COVID-19. 

  • Peachy Acupuncture

    • Upheld
    • Social media (paid ad), Social media (own site)
    • 30 August 2023

    An Instagram post for an Acupuncturist’s page implied that acupuncture could contribute to the treatment of long covid or symptoms of it without robust evidence and promoted prescription-only medicines to the general public.

  • The Heal Air

    • Upheld
    • Internet (website content), Social media (own site)
    • 15 November 2023

    A website, Facebook post and Instagram post claimed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could treat long COVID, which was misleading and could not be substantiated.

  • Jo Llewellyn Craniosacral Therapist

    • Upheld
    • Social media (paid ad), Social media (own site)
    • 30 August 2023

    A paid-for Facebook ad and an Instagram post for a craniosacral therapist implied that craniosacral therapists could treat long covid without robust evidence.

  • Copper Clothing Ltd t/a Copper Clothing

    • Upheld
    • Radio
    • 13 October 2021

    A radio ad for a facemask was banned for misleadingly implying that it could rapidly de-activate COVID-19 particles.

  • Indiralaxmi Vignesh Ltd t/a Hale Clinic

    • Upheld
    • Search (paid), Internet (website content)
    • 08 November 2023

    A website and paid-for search listing claimed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could treat long Covid, which was misleading and couldn’t be substantiated.

  • Serenity Acupuncture

    • Upheld
    • Internet (website content), Social media (own site)
    • 30 August 2023

    A paid-for Facebook ad and website for an Acupuncturist implied that acupuncture could contribute to the treatment of long covid without robust evidence.

  • Nimaya Mindstation Ltd

    • Upheld
    • Internet (website content), Social media (own site)
    • 15 November 2023

    A website and Instagram post claimed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could treat long COVID, which was misleading and could not be substantiated, and discouaraged essential treatment for conditions for which medical supervision should be sought.

  • Steven Thomas

    • Upheld
    • 02 February 2022

    on the effects of the Covid vaccine, so your reports are vital for the future vaccine safety of others”. Below … that was a table titled “UK: Covid Vaccine Injury & Death Reports to 29th Sep 21”. At the top … by each of the three available COVID-19 vaccines. A table at the bottom of the ad listed alleged

    Yellow Card Scheme report data as the number of injuries and deaths that were caused by COVID-19 … vaccines;2. the claim “Covid vaccines have not been approved for public use” was misleading and could … Card Scheme website and relevant reports on the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines, referenced in

  • NUMA Ltd

    • Upheld
    • Internet (website content), Social media (own site)
    • 08 November 2023

    A website and Facebook post claimed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could treat long Covid, which was misleading and couldn’t be substantiated.

  • Person(s) unknown

    • Upheld
    • Directory
    • 16 February 2022

    An ad in a local business directory was banned for implying that the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was unsafe for children.

  • Blood and Medical Services Ltd t/a Vivo Clinic Shop

    • Upheld
    • Internet (website content)
    • 05 May 2021

    A website ad for a health clinic was banned for making misleading claims about the speed at which they could provide the results for Covid-19 tests.

  • Stacey Bradley

    • Upheld
    • Newspaper
    • 25 May 2022

    Two local press ads, one print and one digital, misleadingly implied they had been placed, endorsed or approved by a public body and misleadingly implied COVID-19 vaccinations were unsafe and illegal. They were socially irresponsible and caused fear without justifiable reason.

  • Total Tax Claims Ltd t/a Total Tax Refunds

    • Upheld
    • Internet (website content), Social media (own site)
    • 31 May 2023

    A paid for Facebook ad and website, for a tax repayment agent, made claims about available refund amounts without supporting evidence, omitted significant conditions and didn’t make clear that consumers could apply directly to HMRC at no cost.

  • Health Technologies Ltd

    • Upheld
    • Website (own site), Social media (own site)
    • 30 March 2022

    Three ads for a Covid-19 testing service were banned for being misleading. 

  • Cignpost Diagnostics Ltd

    • Upheld
    • Newspaper
    • 21 July 2021

    A newspaper ad for a PCR testing programme was banned for promoting behaviour that contradicted government advice on social distancing.

  • Evaq Ltd

    • Upheld
    • Website (own site)
    • 30 June 2021

    A website ad for facemasks was banned for misleadingly stating that the masks could kill Covid-19.

  • NothingFishy Ltd

    • Upheld
    • Social media (paid ad)
    • 18 September 2024

    A paid-for Instagram ad made claims that a food supplement could treat symptoms of Covid-19 and also made unauthorised specific health claims.

  • Anthony Grant t/a Resonator.uk

    • Upheld
    • Internet (website content), Social media (own site)
    • 09 June 2021

    A website and Facebook ad for an electronic bio-resonance machine was banned for stating that it was an effective alternative to vaccination against COVID-19.

  • My Perfect Cosmetics Company Ltd

    • Upheld
    • Television, Internet (website content)
    • 14 December 2022

    A TV ad for an anti-aging serum and a product listing on its website included misleading delivery claims and a time-limited promotional offer.

Informally resolved (22)
  • The Smart Clinics

    • 16 June 2021
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • SAF Tehnika JSC

    • 05 January 2022
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd

    • 16 June 2021
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • Nasus Pharma Ltd

    • 10 March 2021
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • Blood and Medical Services Ltd

    • 11 August 2021
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • Our Healthier South East London

    • 07 September 2022
    • Number of complaints: 0

  • Reset To Thrive

    • 26 April 2023
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • Rakhee Mediratta

    • 24 July 2024
    • Number of complaints: 0

    Topic: Medicines, remedies and therapies

  • vServices Ltd

    • 11 January 2023
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • Viva!

    • 31 August 2022
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • Hyperbaric Oxygen Clinic

    • 21 September 2022
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • Direct Response Marketing Group Ltd

    • 14 April 2021
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • TUI UK Ltd

    • 16 February 2022
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • Profit Accumulator World Wide Ltd

    • 22 February 2023
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • The Gift of Bread Ltd

    • 04 May 2022
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • Suzuki GB plc

    • 26 January 2022
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • This is the Big Deal Ltd

    • 28 July 2021
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • We Love Holidays Ltd t/a loveholidays.com

    • 03 January 2024
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • MediSupplies Ltd

    • 07 June 2023
    • Number of complaints: 1

  • Mondelez UK Ltd

    • 21 July 2021
    • Number of complaints: 1