Legal and regulation

Helpful information on the advertising rules for ads about legal services and regulatory matters.

In addition to our rules, advertisers have an obligation to stick to any relevant legislation that relates to their sector, product or service. Our rules are designed to reflect the law, and some sections of the Advertising Code have explicit references to relevant legislation. However advertisers’ legal obligations are not covered in full and it remains the advertiser’s responsibility to seek out legal advice and make sure they have taken any relevant legislation into account when preparing their ads.

We do not enforce or interpret the law and if we believe it is better to refer a matter, or enquirer, to a law enforcement body, we will do so.

The main rules advertisers should be aware of are: ads should comply with the law and should not incite anyone to break it, and advertisers must not state or imply a product can legally be sold if it cannot.

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Latest rulings

One Source Digital Ltd
- Upheld
- Social media (paid ad)
- 16 August 2023
A paid-for Facebook ad for an ECO funding and government grant scheme misleadingly implied that the company was endorsed by or affiliated with the UK Government.
Age Partnership Ltd
- Upheld
- Television
- 26 July 2023
A TV ad for an equity release advisor and retirement income service provider misleadingly offered financial advice which they were unauthorised to provide.
Phillipson Hardwick Advisory Ltd t/a The Tax Hero
- Upheld
- Social media (paid ad), Internet (website content)
- 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.
Quickly Finance Ltd t/a Fast Track Reclaim
- Upheld
- Search (paid), Internet (website content)
- 31 May 2023
A paid for Google 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.

View all rulings

Legal and regulation

Helpful information on the advertising rules for ads about legal services and regulatory matters.

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Latest rulings

One Source Digital Ltd

Age Partnership Ltd

Phillipson Hardwick Advisory Ltd t/a The Tax Hero

Quickly Finance Ltd t/a Fast Track Reclaim

Help getting it right

Popular advice

Influencers' guide to making clear that ads are ads

Recognising ads: Social media and influencer marketing

Promotional marketing: terms and conditions and significant conditions

Relevant codes

04 Harm and offence

04 Harm and offence

03 Misleading advertising

Appendix 3 The CPRs and BPRs

03 Misleading advertising

07 Political and controversial matters

07 Political advertisements

01 Compliance

Appendix 3 VSPs Advertising rules for video-sharing platforms regulated by statute

01 Compliance

Appendix 2 Extracts from directive 89-552-EEC as amended (audiovisual media services directive)

32 Scheduling

31 Other categories of radio advertisements that require central copy clearance

02 Recognition of marketing communications

Appendix 1 Statutory framework for the regulation of broadcast advertising

How the system works

Appendix 1 The CPRs and BPRs

Appendix 2 Advertising rules for on-demand services regulated by statute

10 Prohibited categories