By CHRIS DANIELS
There is no such thing as a free Coke, say advertising watchdogs.
The Advertising Standards Complaints Board has upheld a complaint from a North Shore woman who was offered six free bottles of Coke or Pepsi.
An advertisement told North Shore Times-Advertiser readers that they had "been selected" to get the free drinks simply by ringing a phone number.
Callers were asked which drink they preferred, then told the drinks would be delivered only if they listened to a 30-minute presentation about security systems.
Protector Group, which ran the advertisement, told the board that it clearly said: "See our new product and receive free Coke or Pepsi." The company said that it had received only one complaint.
The board found there was only one line in the advertisement to "suggest that the advertiser was offering anything other than a gratuitous gift of six litres of Coke or Pepsi." That was not sufficient, and any conditions on offers should be clear and unambiguous.
Another board decision published yesterday upheld a complaint about internet service provider ZFree, which advertised "free internet" connections to children.
A complainant said the service was not free, as customers paid 2c a minute for more than 10 hours' internet use. Callers to the ZFree helpdesk were also charged $1.49 plus GST a minute for service.
ZFree argued that the "internet access" was free and did not refer to helpdesk charges, and said it thought the Telecom interconnection charge of 2c a minute was illegal anyway.
In any event, Telecom stopped charging that levy in May.
The board upheld the complaint against ZFree, primarily because it involved advertising pitched at children. Clearly there were costs to customers that were not disclosed in the advertisements, the board ruled.
ZFree has withdrawn the advertisement.
Free softdrinks offer had strings
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