SimplySwitch claimed "You can save over 拢200 by changing your gas and electricity provider" in a national press ad saying it had teamed up with The Times. It also said "We find you the best deal" and described itself as "independent -- not owned by any supplier".
All three of these claims were disputed by a reader, who said she had found a cheaper energy deal than the one found for her by SimplySwitch, with a provider called Telecom Plus.
SimplySwitch said at the time the ad appeared Telecom Plus did not appear on its website because of an error, which had now been corrected. The Advertising Standards Authority considered that its claim to find consumers the best deal was not objectionable.
However, the ASA did object to the claim "independent -- not owned by any supplier" because it suggested that there was no commercial link between SimplySwitch and its suppliers.
Although SimplySwitch compares prices for all suppliers, it is able to help consumers switch only to those suppliers with whom it has commercial arrangements.
On these grounds, the ASA decided SimplySwitch should not use the claim, or describe itself as an "impartial switching service". It approved SimplySwitch's suggestion of labelling itself an "impartial comparison service".
The ASA also upheld the complaint about the claim "you can save over 拢200" because this did not apply to every customer. It told SimplySwitch to use more conditional language such as "you could save over 拢200", and also questioned the figures used to calculate the savings, which SimplySwitch admitted were mistaken.
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