The Sun newspaper, which prides itself as a family read, has fallen foul of the ad watchdog after it refused to award a promotional prize – a holiday to Disney Florida – to one reader because she wanted to take her sister’s kids on the break.
The promotion, which ran on The Sun’s website, stated: “Win a seven-night family holiday to Disney World Resort in Florida . This month, Travel City Direct is coming to the rescue of one special family, giving away the ultimate holiday package to be won to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida … To be in with a chance of winning this magical holiday, just enter our prize draw.”
The complainant, who had been told she had won the competition but then informed she was not eligible because she wanted to take her sister’s kids, challenged whether the promotion had been administered fairly.
In its defence Sun-owner News Group Newspapers said it had contacted three winners to check whether they met the terms and conditions of the promotion.
One wanted to go alone, and was told he did not qualify. However, when the second person was contacted – the complainant – she too was told she did not qualify. A third winner was given the prize as they qualified as a “family”; a couple with two children.
Yet the Advertising Standards Authority ruled that if The Sun did not wish to award the prize to extended family it should have specified so in the terms and conditions.
The watchdog believed the complainant had been caused unnecessary disappointment, and banned The Sun from running the campaign again in its current form.
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