Ad description
A prize promotion on a recruitment company's social networking page offered participants the chance to win £250.
Issue
The complainant challenged whether the promotion was administered fairly, because he believed the winner was not genuine.
Response
ZX Recruitment said they had not profited in any way from using the social networking page. When the ASA contacted them, they had arranged to name those winners who were happy to have their names announced and for the competitions to be stopped. They said they were prepared to make changes in future.
Assessment
Upheld
The ASA acknowledged ZX Recruitment's willingness to make changes. However, we noted we had not seen evidence to demonstrate that the prize was awarded to a genuine winner in accordance with the laws of chance and by an independent person or under the supervision of an independent person. In the absence of such evidence, we considered ZX Recruitment had not demonstrated that the promotion had been administered fairly and therefore concluded that it breached the Code.
The promotion breached CAP Code (Edition 12) rules 8.2 8.2 Promoters must conduct their promotions equitably, promptly and efficiently and be seen to deal fairly and honourably with participants and potential participants. Promoters must avoid causing unnecessary disappointment. and 8.14 8.14 Promoters must ensure that their promotions are conducted under proper supervision and make adequate resources available to administer them. Promoters, agencies and intermediaries should not give consumers justifiable grounds for complaint. (Sales promotions) and 8.24 8.24 Promoters of prize draws must ensure that prizes are awarded in accordance with the laws of chance and, unless winners are selected by a computer process that produces verifiably random results, by an independent person, or under the supervision of an independent person. (Prize promotions).
Action
We told ZX Recruitment to ensure their future promotions were administered fairly and that prizes were awarded in accordance with the laws of chance.
