Internet service provider MWEB has been accused of duping customers into a year-long ShowMax subscription with one of its special deals.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said in a ruling that it would not make any findings in the case because MWEB’s deal had ended and it had undertaken to clear things up with customer Charles Hellaby.
Hellaby complained to the ASA‚ saying MWEB’s website banner advertising an uncapped ADSL data deal‚ which offers customers “3 months’ ADSL + 3 months ShowMax”‚ was misleading.
According to Hellaby the deal required him to commit to a year-long ShowMax subscription‚ without his knowledge‚ at an additional R99 per month.
He said this detail was not included in MWEB’s advertising. The call agent who assisted Hellaby did not notify him either‚ he said.
Emails between Hellaby and MWEB show that the ShowMax subscription cannot be cancelled after the free three-month period‚ the ASA said.
MWEB responded‚ saying the deal is over and that the advertising relating to it has been removed from its website.
“It added that it has contacted the complainant to resolve the matter and will be honouring the offer‚” the ASA said.
MWEB owns video-on-demand service ShowMax.
MWEB Marketing Manager Karin O’Donoghue said the matter has been resolved with Hellaby to the ASA’s satisfaction. She said she is not at liberty to discuss further details of Hellaby’s account.
The deal ended in February.
O’Donoghue said MWEB has not received any other complaints relating to this deal.
'Free" ShowMax extra was actually a R99 year-long subscription
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said in a ruling that it would not make any findings in the case because MWEB’s deal had ended and it had undertaken to clear things up with customer Charles Hellaby.
Hellaby complained to the ASA‚ saying MWEB’s website banner advertising an uncapped ADSL data deal‚ which offers customers “3 months’ ADSL + 3 months ShowMax”‚ was misleading.
According to Hellaby the deal required him to commit to a year-long ShowMax subscription‚ without his knowledge‚ at an additional R99 per month.
He said this detail was not included in MWEB’s advertising. The call agent who assisted Hellaby did not notify him either‚ he said.
Emails between Hellaby and MWEB show that the ShowMax subscription cannot be cancelled after the free three-month period‚ the ASA said.
MWEB responded‚ saying the deal is over and that the advertising relating to it has been removed from its website.
“It added that it has contacted the complainant to resolve the matter and will be honouring the offer‚” the ASA said.
MWEB owns video-on-demand service ShowMax.
MWEB Marketing Manager Karin O’Donoghue said the matter has been resolved with Hellaby to the ASA’s satisfaction. She said she is not at liberty to discuss further details of Hellaby’s account.
The deal ended in February.
O’Donoghue said MWEB has not received any other complaints relating to this deal.
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