Virgin red-faced over Orange jibe

Adverstising boo boo wins rap on knuckles from standards authority...

Virgin Mobile has been rapped across the knuckles by advertising watchdogs for making "unfair" comparisons between call charges with rival Orange. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said Virgin would have to consult the Committee of Advertising Practice Copy Advice before advertising in the future because of misleading leaflets aimed at Orange users. The leaflets claimed pre-pay customers from Orange would be "surprised" at the savings by changing to Virgin. However, the ASA ruled that price comparisons were not comparing like with like as the Orange fees applied to those paid by monthly line rental tariff users. Also upheld by the ASA was an Orange complaint that Virgin did not point out new users are required to pay a one off administration charge of £15.