Hybrid agency YOPA and London agency Marsh & Parsons have crossed swords with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) this week after promotional material they had produced were objected to by members of the public.
YOPA was reported to the watchdog about a data table published on its website. It featured comparisons of different estate agents including their number of properties for sale and average listing age.
Two complainants, who said the comparisons were based on YOPA’s national figures against their competitors’ local one, challenged whether the comparison was misleading
“We raised these concerns with the advertiser,” the ASA says.
“YOPA confirmed that the ad had been removed and that they would not compare their national data with competitor’s local data.”
Advertising Standards Authority
A direct mailing by Marsh & Parsons, which is owned by LSL, was referred to the ASA after a letter addressed to a complainant offered to rent out their property because “we couldn’t help but notice that your property is currently on the market for lettings”.
“I’d love to meet you and let you know how Marsh & Parsons… can expose your property to the widest range of tenants,” the letter went on.
The only trouble was the complainant’s property wasn’t available for rent and they objected that the ad was likely to “cause undue distress”.
After being contact by the ASA, Marsh & Parsons talked to its data provider and promised the direct mail was an isolated instance.
The company has also undertaken to not contact the complainant again with communications of this nature.
The post Two high-profile agents investigated by Advertising Standards Authority appeared first on The Negotiator.