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Astrology - a test case

Asolepius

Graduate Poster
Asolepius
Joined
Jul 5, 2004
Messages
1,150
This is one for UK members here. In a weekly advertising newspaper, there is a syndicated astrology column. It carries the usual fatuous statements for each star sign, but then invites readers to phone a premium rate number for a fuller reading. I don't care whether this is a live personalised reading or a recorded message. The principle is that they are offering to predict the future in return for payment. This makes it in law a contract. Now for the contract to hold the offer must be capable of being backed up with evidence. I have complained to the Advertising Standards Authority, which is normally very good, but they sidestepped the issue and would not pursue the complaint. Obviously if they do uphold it the flood gates will open and no astrologer will be able to advertise paid-for services. Well why don't we open the flood gates right now? Everyone, please submit your complaints to ASA via the link above. It's extremely quick and easy. You will find loads of ads in Yellow Pages, local newspapers etc. Just scan and upload to ASA as instructed on their site. If they get say 50 complaints they can't ignore them as they did mine.

A word of warning. ASA only regulates paid for advertising, eg newspapers, billboards, 3rd party websites (eg Google Ads). It doesn't regulate anyone's own website, or any point of sale advertising. Those come under Trading Standards and Office of Fair Trading, but I have never been able to get either to take any action on any subject.
 
Would it make more sense to target one specific astrologer rather than a scatter gun approach? If the ASA received a number of complaints against one individual that would give them some focus, and if the campaign where effective it would act as a test case for others.

So any suggestions on who to pick on first?
 
Good idea Nero. The one in my newspaper is Claire Petulengro. Probably turns up all over the country so shall we target this one?
 
Thanks Nero. Where did you find Petulengro advertising as a matter of interest?
 
I never read horoscopes but for the sake of a complaint to the ASA I made an exception in this case. In the Lancashire Telegraph Claire claims that for Virgo (my star-sign) “The full moon is sure to see us all acting a little more animatedly”. Now this horoscope was dated Thursday April 13th, but “hang-on” I hear you say, today is Friday the 13th not Thursday. Oh well, must be just an accidental typing mistake, we all get our dates wrong sometimes. But more importantly what’s the moon up to? Well it appears to be somewhat far from being full:

http://www.dacre.net/moon/moonphase.html

So both date, and state of the moon wrong. I’d have thought that it would be somewhat important to get these two right for a good prediction.
 
Perhaps she is talking about in 2.5 weeks' time:D

ETA: I usually watch Jools Holland's Hootenanny on New Year's Eve. He always goes round the audience asking for predictions, and has an astrologer on hand (all very tongue in cheek I'm sure). If he were to ask me, I would give a prediction with guaranteed 100% accuracy. It would be that all the astrologers will turn out to be wrong.
 
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JimTheBrit said:
I suggest The Express' Justin Toper (website). Asolepius, how did the ASA initially sidestep your complaint?
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They said:
Horoscopes are interpreted in different ways by different people and we don't feel that readers will be misled by this........If the advertisers clearly state what the call charges are then we feel that this has been made clear to consumers and is not in breach of the Code.
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I replied to set out even more clearly the matter of false claims, but got no reply.
 
You're probably wasting your time... I complained to the ASA years ago about a "Tarot Love-line" service offered by "Womans Own" magazine. The ASA washed their hands of it and suggested that since it was a phone service the proper responsible body was ICSTIS. They in turn took the view that the service was intended as 'entertainment' and wasn't in breach of their codes of practice. Unsurprisingly the magazines' publishers didn't wan't to know either.
 
petulengro.jpg


How about:
Rung a lot? - Creep! Lie!

or
Cruel liar - get open!

or
Liar! Pee leg or c***!

or
Rag to penile ulcer.
 
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Asolepius said:
The principle is that they are offering to predict the future in return for payment. This makes it in law a contract. Now for the contract to hold the offer must be capable of being backed up with evidence.
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Are you sure there's no fine print somewhere saying "For entertainment purposes only"?
 
JoeTheJuggler said:
Are you sure there's no fine print somewhere saying "For entertainment purposes only"?
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100% sure. Anyway in English law small print disclaimers are secondary to the overall message. It's not possible to make claims and then reverse them in the disclaimer - any court will take the overall impression the reader gets as the message.
 
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