Is this misleading advertising?

[my-spirit-soars-free]

I am trying to find a new broadband deal, with home phone.

 

I am finding it incredibly difficult - because the headline rate bears no resemblance to what you actually pay.

 

Take Plusnet - a tv advert - broadband and phone for £9.99 per month. In small letters, at the bottom of the screen "line rental required, £12.99". So - actual cost is actually £22.98 - more than twice as much, and it is not possible to get the package by paying the £9.99.

 

 

Line rental makes sense when people pay for individual calls - but most packages don't do that anymore - it seems to be a way of keeping the headline rate attractive while hiding the real cost.

 

 

Of course then there are the "for the first three months" type adverts - real cost is 2 or 3 screens further on.

 

 

To me it seems like going in to Tesco, wanting to buy the advertised tin of beans for a penny - and finding that the label on the tin costs 50p, and you have to buy the label!

 

 

What do other people think?

[rebel11]

Hi my

 

Lodge a complaint with the ASA, they can look into it to see if advertising rules and regs are being breached.

Get all the evidence together, like screenshots.

 

http://www.asa.org.uk/

[meemok]

IMHO, I don't find it 'misleading'. ( even though you might need to borrow the hubble telescope to read the important info! )

 

To access the internet, you need some way of connecting to an ISP (phone line / fibre optic e.t.c)

That is what the £12.99 per month is for with Plusnet.

 

Then the £9.99 (or whatever it is in your area) is for the broadband and call package.

[my-spirit-soars-free]

My point is that there is absolutely no way of accessing the £9.99 offer without paying the £12.99.

 

 

If you could get line rental elsewhere - then I could see it - but effectively, you cannot get the package without paying the £12.99

 

 

Hi Rebel - I shall take a photo of my tv.

[sillygirl1]

Plusnet are very bad when there is a problem, I was with them for a while.

 

If it is just broadband you need what about a dongle? There are some good deals now on dongles and 'line free' hubs are available as well.

 

I'm now with 02 and haven't experienced any problems.

 

Even Virginmedia mislead customers with their prices by not quoting that you MUST have a phone line.

[locutus]

My point is that there is absolutely no way of accessing the £9.99 offer without paying the £12.99.

 

 

If you could get line rental elsewhere - then I could see it - but effectively, you cannot get the package without paying the £12.99

 

 

Hi Rebel - I shall take a photo of my tv.

 

You can access plusnet thrugh a BT line, so it's not plusnets charge.

 

Plusnet are very bad when there is a problem, I was with them for a while.

 

If it is just broadband you need what about a dongle? There are some good deals now on dongles and 'line free' hubs are available as well.

 

I'm now with 02 and haven't experienced any problems.

 

Even Virginmedia mislead customers with their prices by not quoting that you MUST have a phone line.

 

If you do decide to go for a broadband dongle, check out which is your closest cell

http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/search

 

Also plusnet do have a company rep on the boards here... Bob-Pullen.-Plusnet-Customer-Support he is always more than happy to help, give him a shout if you want him to take a look at things.

[my-spirit-soars-free]

Plusnet say that their line rental is required.

 

 

I was not having a go at Plusnet, specifically, as all the companies do it - just getting annoyed as it makes comparing the prices so difficult.

[locutus]

Plusnet say that their line rental is required.

 

For the broadband and calls package that is correct. For broadband only you can use a BT line.

[Bang!]

Plusnet (aka BT (spitting noise)) can also be used with a non BT (spitting noise) service.

 

It you don't mind going with BT (spitting noise) you can pay a year up front for £120 so only a tenner a month.

 

However, its likely you can get the Plus Net internet package with a monthly line rental from http://www.homephonechoices.co.uk/ which will cost you only £6.79 per month for a 12 month contract.