Auctionworld faces Ofcom scrutiny

net1

Teleshopping channel Auctionworld has run into serious trouble with media regulator Ofcom after notching up more than 120 complaints for poor customer service.
Ofcom said it was seriously concerned about Auctionworld after the channel was found guilty of repeatedly failing to deliver customer orders on time and failing to make sufficient arrangements to handle customer enquiries.

"Auctionworld has a history of compliance failures in terms of late or non-delivery of products and poor customer service. Ofcom continues to remain seriously concerned and will carefully monitor the licensee's compliance over the coming months," the regulator said in its latest advertising complaints bulletin.

The station said it had deliberately extended the delivery time on some products and had broadcast the changes on-screen, but admitted that it had failed to meet even its extended delivery deadlines for some products.

It is the second time Auctionworld has been found in breach of the advertising standards code. Last year Ofcom's predecessor, the Independent Television Commission, criticised the station for similar offences.

Auctionworld isn't the only TV company to fall foul of Ofcom. The watchdog also upheld complaints against NTL for presentations on its self-promotion channel, TV To Talk About.

Ofcom upheld complaints that NTL had misled its subscribers about changes to the different channel packages the cable company offered, which meant some viewers could no longer see UK Gold, VH1 and The Box.

In its TV advertising, NTL said: "We want to ensure that all our customers get great value entertainment at great value prices but we don't want to take away any of their service, so what we have done is improve what they've got." Although NTL pointed out that the loss of the stations had been made clear in mailers sent to its customers, Ofcom ruled that NTL's ads had given a different message.

Ofcom also upheld complaints against Game Network, the gaming station shown by Rapture TV, for broadcasting ads which gave the impression it offered 24-hour gaming content, when in fact it broadcast adult content after 9pm.

linda

i have been waiting for a ring from auctionworld for 5 months they have taken the money but has i have said i have not recieved the goods and i cannot get through to them via telephone