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ASA AdjudicationsTo make a complaint to The Advertising Standards Authority you can do so through this online form.
To read in detail what the ASA can do
Here are some adjudications by The ASA with regards to paranormal / supernatural advertising and claims, so you can get an idea of what can be done by The ASA.
23 September 2009 - Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Result - Complaint upheld
19 August 2009 - Professor Mohammad Zain
Result - Complaint upheld
25 March 2009 - Pundit Maharaj
Result - Complaint upheld
19 November 2008 - Sister Charlotte
Result - Complaint upheld
3 September 2008 - Gabriel D'Angelo
Result - Complaint upheld
3 September 2008 - Marie de Fortune
Result - Complaint upheld
30 July 2008 - New Guardian Light Mystic Centre Ltd
Result - Complaint upheld
23 July 2008 - Joanne Buckley
Result - Complaint upheld
4 June 2008 - Professor Mohammed
Result - Complaint upheld
4 June 2008 - Pundit Maharaj
Result - Complaint upheld
23 April 2008 - Pandit Bharathraj Shastri
Result - Complaint upheld
12 March 2008 - Zara / Freya
Result - Complaint upheld
13 February 2008 - MATV
Result - Complaint upheld
14 November 2007 - Joan Marie
Result - Complaint upheld
3 October 2007 - Pandith Sri Guru Poojya Vijay Sharmaji
Result - Complaint upheld
3 October 2007 - Pundit Maharaj
Result - Complaint upheld
2nd August 2006 - Skye Alexander
Result - Complaint upheld
16th February 2005 - The Association of Professional Clairvoyants
Result - Complaint upheld
The below is taken from the The ASA website, and gives details on what they do.
What we do
The Advertising Standards Authority regulates the content of advertisements, sales promotions and direct marketing in the UK.
We make sure standards are kept high by applying the advertising standards codes.
We can stop misleading, harmful or offensive advertising. We can ensure sales promotions are run fairly. We can help reduce unwanted commercial mail - either sent through the post, by e-mail or by text message - and we can resolve problems with mail order purchases.
How we do it
The ASA investigates complaints made about ads, sales promotions or direct marketing. Anyone can complain to us. Most complaints are made through the complaints form on this website. We publish our adjudications on complaints on this website every Wednesday.
We also monitor ads ourselves to spot problems.
We carry out research in many areas to help us in our work, including research into people’s attitudes towards advertising and compliance with the advertising standards codes within specific sectors and media.
The advertising standards codes
The advertising standards codes are separated out into codes for TV, radio and all other types of ads. There are also rules for Teletext ads, Interactive ads and the scheduling of television ads. The codes can be read in full here.
The main principles of the advertising standards codes are that ads should not mislead, cause harm, or offend.
There are specific rules for certain products and marketing techniques. These include rules for alcoholic drinks, health and beauty, children, motoring, environmental claims, gambling, direct marketing and prize promotions.
The advertising industry takes responsibility for writing the advertising standards codes and enforcing ASA rulings through the Committee of Advertising Practice, which represents the main industry bodies representing advertisers, agencies and media owners.
