Claims, endorsements and testimonials

Helpful advice on how to correctly make claims and use endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

We recognise that testimonials can be an important tool to help advertisers promote their products and services. A negative or positive review can affect a consumer’s decision to part with their money. However it is just as important for advertisers to stick to the rules when using testimonials or endorsements in their ads.

Advertisers must be able to prove to us that testimonials and endorsements are from a real person and reflect accurately what that person said. Any claims made in endorsements or testimonials, which are likely to be interpreted as fact, must not mislead other consumers. Advertisers should be aware we do not accept testimonials as sufficient evidence to prove a claim about how effective a product is, i.e. that it worked. For example, a testimonial that product X cured the consumer of an illness.

It is also important that advertisers have the permission of the consumer to feature their testimonial in their ads and that they are aware of their obligations under the Database Practice rules for doing this.

There are some circumstances where the use of testimonials and endorsements in ads is strictly prohibited altogether. The use of health professionals or celebrities to endorse medicines is not allowed and advertisers can’t make health claims that refer to the recommendation of an individual health professional.

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Latest rulings

CheaperWaste Ltd
- Upheld
- Internet (website content)
- 18 May 2022
A website that included a page for comparing waste companies did not make clear it was for the purposes of lead generation, misleadingly presented the nature of the services office and implied that they were price comparison services when that was not the case.
My Pharmacy (UK) Ltd
- Upheld
- Website (own site)
- 04 May 2022
We upheld complaints about ads for a vitamin supplement .
The Otley Burger Company
- Upheld
- Social media (own site)
- 20 April 2022
A tweet, an Instagram and a Facebook post by The Otley Burger Company which referenced the disappearance of Madeleine McCann was banned for being likely to cause serious and widespread offence and distress.
Stillbloom Ltd
- Upheld
- Internet (video)
- 13 April 2022
An ad for lead generation service CleverKeith has been banned for misleading advertising.

View all rulings

Claims, endorsements and testimonials

Helpful advice on how to correctly make claims and use endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

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