The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that online
wig seller Wigshow.co.uk has broken advertising rules by not
providing customers with the address of its foreign supplier and
not explaining that customers returning goods would have to pay
customs duty.
As of March 2011, when its remit was broadened, the Advertising
Standards Authority’s rules on misleading ads now apply to
marketing messages on businesses’ websites as well as promotions
on social-networking sites.
On the 18th July, the UK advertising watchdog upheld three
complaints made from a consumer regarding information contained
on the toupee seller’s returns and refunds page.
A consumer contacted the ASA following the purchase of a wig from
Wigshow.co.uk. On arrival, the wig, which was supplied from Hong
Kong, did not detail the supplier’s address. When the customer
attempted to return the item, Wigshow said that it would only
issue a refund of up to 50 percent of the cost and that the
consumer would be liable for customs duty.
The ASA adjudication ruled that the retailer should not have
tried to charge the customer for customs duty stating that
“because there was no information on the website stating
that additional international fees were payable, we concluded
that it was misleading.”
The ASA ordered Wigshow to amend its website to include
information about its geographic address, the full geographic
address of its supplier, and state all applicable fees.
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