A complaint made against two online recruitment adverts detailing data entry and customer service positions has been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

The complainant challenged whether the ads were misleading, because:

• he had applied on a number of occasions and had never received an interview and did not believe the positions advertised were genuine;
• he believed applicants were required to phone an 0844 telephone number after submitting their CVs; there was therefore a charge to receive information about the positions; and
• he did not believe the company had offices in Doncaster and Newcastle upon Tyne.

The ASA ruled that the adverts, placed by JK Data Recruitment, did not provide evidence to support the claims that the positions they offered were genuine, office-based positions and that they had offices in Doncaster and Newcastle upon Tyne.

It adds that it considered that the claims in the adverts had not been substantiated and concluded that they were misleading.  The ASA also reminded the firm that future ads should include the advertisers full name and contact details and make clear that applicants had to call a 0844 phone number to obtain further information.

JK Data Recruitment failed to respond to the ASA’s enquiries.