A recent brochure by Cell-Shack advertised a “FREE Phone…FREE Internet Browsing”, something that did not impress Mr A van der Merwe. <\/p>\n
Van der Merwe laid a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASA), submitting ‘that one is charged for downloaded data, and that it is impossible not to download data whilst browsing. Accordingly, Internet browsing cannot be free on any of the advertised deals.’<\/p>\n
Cell-Shack argued that “FREE Internet browsing” was used with Vodafone Live handsets, and that the claim is true for browsing within the Vodafone Live portal.<\/p>\n
Cell-Shack however promised that it will use the following claim in future: “Browse for FREE! Only pay for what you download! Vodafone live only. All other websites pay according to the bearer.”<\/p>\n
This satisfied all parties, on condition that the advertisement in question is not used again in its current format in future.<\/p>\n