BBB National Programs Decision Summaries
BBB National Programs provides summaries of all case decisions from the National Advertising Division (NAD), National Advertising Review Board (NARB), Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU), Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), and Digital Advertising Accountability Program (DAAP). Subscribe to receive a weekly wrap-up of published case decisions in your inbox.
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12/28/2021 - National Advertising Division Finds Chime’s “No Overdraft Fees” Claims Supported; Recommends Qualification of “No Hidden Fees” Claims
New York, NY – December 28, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that Chime Financial, Inc.’s advertising for its “SpotMe” program disclosed the material information necessary to ensure that claims about its program are substantiated, that Chime’s “no overdraft fees” claims are supported, and that the Chime homepage adequately qualifies its “no fees” claim so that consumers understand that out-of-network ATM fees are not among the hidden fees it eliminates. However, NAD recommended that Chime qualify claims on its “No Hidden Fees” webpage and television advertising to make clear that the eliminated fees do not include out-of-network ATM fees.
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12/22/2021 - National Advertising Division Refers Advertising for PLx Pharma’s Vazalore to FTC After Compliance Review
New York, NY – December 22, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs has referred advertising claims made by PLx Pharma, Inc. to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for review and possible enforcement action after the company declined to accept NAD’s recommendations to modify certain claims for its Vazalore immediate-release aspirin product. -
12/21/2021 - National Advertising Division Recommends Cryo-Cell Discontinue or Modify Certain Health-Related Claims for Cord Blood Banking and Treatment Services
New York, NY – December 21, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that Cryo-Cell discontinue the unsupported message that families must engage the advertiser’s cord blood storage services to ensure access to the advertised cord blood infusion treatments, or modify its advertising to avoid conveying the message that consumers have exclusive or superior access to advertised cord blood infusion treatments by virtue of choosing Cryo-Cell for storage services. The advertising at issue was challenged by ViaCord, LLC, a provider of competing cord blood banking services.
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12/14/2021 - National Advertising Division Recommends Comcast Discontinue “Unlimited 5G” and “Best Price” Claims for Xfinity 5G Mobile Plans
New York, NY – December 14, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that Comcast Cable Communications, LLC discontinue certain “Unlimited 5G” and “best price” claims for its Xfinity 5G mobile plans as challenged by competitor T-Mobile US, Inc.
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12/09/2021 - In Four Fast-Track SWIFT Cases, National Advertising Division Recommends Advertiser Claims be Modified or Discontinued; Three Decisions to be Appealed
New York, NY – December 9, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) closed four Fast-Track SWIFT cases in November. In these cases AT&T challenged Mint Mobile’s online and mobile advertisements for its high-speed data plan; Bayer HealthCare challenged the prominence or sufficiency of disclosures in video advertising by PLx Pharma Inc. for its Vazalore aspirin product; NAOOA challenged comparative claims about other olive oils sold in the US, made by olive oil manufacturer Brightland; and P&G challenged “#1 Brand” claims made by Perrigo in print and online advertising for its Plackers brand dental floss products.
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12/01/2021 - National Advertising Division Finds Certain Bausch + Lomb Claims for INFUSE Contact Lenses Supported; Advertiser Appeals Other Findings
New York, NY – December 1, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that Bausch Health provided a reasonable basis for certain INFUSE silicone hydrogel (SiHy) daily contact lens and lens property claims. However, NAD recommended other challenged claims be modified or discontinued. The claims, which appeared in an INFUSE contact lens brochure directed to Eye Care Professionals (ECPs), along with substantially similar claims appearing in a video and on a consumer-facing website, were challenged by Alcon Vision, LLC, manufacturer of competing DAILIES TOTAL1 (DT1) contact lenses. B+L will appeal NAD’s decision.
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11/30/2021 - National Advertising Division Recommends Byte Disclose Incentivized Reviews for Aligner Products
New York, NY – November 30, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that Straight Smile, LLC (Byte) take reasonable measures to provide clear and conspicuous disclosures informing consumers that the review was incentivized for each incentivized review on its website and on BestCompany.com, and discontinue its advertising ranking on BestCompany.com or modify the advertising to ensure that consumers clearly understand that Best Company’s ranking is advertising for Byte and not an honest review from an independent third party. The claims were challenged by SmileDirectClub, LLC.
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11/23/2021 - T-Mobile Appeals National Advertising Division Recommendation to Discontinue “America’s . . . Most Reliable 5G Network” and Other Claims
New York, NY – November 23, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that T-Mobile discontinue certain advertising claims for T-Mobile’s 5G network. T-Mobile will appeal NAD’s decision. The claims, which appeared in television, radio, and internet advertising, were challenged by Verizon Communications, Inc.
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11/23/2021 - T-Mobile Appeals National Advertising Division Recommendation to Discontinue Claims that T-Mobile Has the Most Reliable 5G Network According to umlaut
New York, NY – November 23, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that T-Mobile discontinue all claims that it has the most reliable 5G network according to the third-party testing company, umlaut. T-Mobile will appeal NAD’s decision. The express and implied claims, which appeared in two television commercials and internet advertising, were challenged by AT&T Services, Inc.
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11/18/2021 - NAD Finds AT&T’s “Faster Internet Experience” Claim Supported in Large File Upload and Self-Comparative Contexts; Advertiser Appeals Other Findings
New York, NY – November 18, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that the AT&T Services, Inc. claim to have a “faster internet experience” than cable with respect to large file uploads was supported in the context in which it was presented, as well as the claim that AT&T Internet delivers “consistent speed, even at peak times.” However, NAD recommended that AT&T discontinue or modify other challenged comparative performance, pricing, and bandwidth claims. The claims, which appeared on television, radio, the advertiser’s webpage, and on an outdoor ad, were challenged by Charter Communications, Inc.