Action for Debt, based in Bishop Auckland County Durham claimed in its advert the waiting time to see Citizen’s Advice was three weeks, adding it offered advice within 48 hours and “we offer more options than anyone else.”
Wear Valley Citizens Advice challenged all of the ad’s assertions and the challenge was upheld.
ASA upheld the Citizen’s advice defence that it offers a wider range of personal debt advice options than Action for Debt, including Debt Relief Orders, and through its partnerships with other debt advice services the Money Advice Service and the CCCS.
As a result, it concluded the ad was likely to mislead.
Asa said: “The ad must not appear again in its current form. We told Action for Debt not to make claims concerning the waiting times or services of the C.A.B. without robust substantiation.”
