Advertising Standards Authority

Mail address

Mid City Place 71

High Holborn

London WC1V 6QT

UK

Telephone: +44 20 7492 2222

Textphone: +44 20 7242 8159

Fax: +44 20 7242 3696

E-mail: enquiries(at)asa.org.uk  

Website: www.asa.org.uk ; www.cap.org.uk  

Website language: English

Main Contact: Mr Guy Parker

Cross-Border Complaints Contact: Ms Emily Henwood

Date of establishment: ASA established 1962; ASA(B) established 2004

Code

CAP and BCAP operate three codes: for non-broadcast advertising, television advertising and radio advertising respectively. These codes, and additional rules and guidance, can be viewed online at www.cap.org.uk.

Complaints handling

The ASA handles complaints from competitors, consumers and other interested parties. All complaints are handled free of charge. Complaints must usually be submitted in writing, by post, fax or via the on-line complaints form on the ASA website with details of the advertisement concerned.

Copy advice/pre-clearance

The Copy Advice team, working under the auspices of CAP, advises advertisers, sales promoters, direct marketers, agencies, publishers and other media owners on how to avoid breaching the CAP Code. Copy advice is free and non-binding, except where pre-clearance is imposed as a sanction. ASA does not offer pre-clearance (see Clearcast below).

Clearcast

Mail address

4 Roger Street

London WC1N 2JX

UK

Telephone: +44 207 339 4700 

E-mail:enquiries(at)clearcast.co.uk

Website: www.clearcast.co.uk  

Website language: English

Main Contact: Mr Kristoffer Hammer

Date of establishment: 1956, became Clearcast in 2008

Code

The TV Advertising Standards Code applies to all television services licensed by Ofcom.

Copy advice/ pre-clearance

Clearcast has two principal functions: the examination of preproduction scripts and the pre-transmission clearance of finished television advertisements. Clearcast provides pre-clearance to advertising agencies on proposed TV advertisements prior to broadcast. Clearcast also publishes Notes of Guidance, which offer guidance on the current interpretation of the Code and the Copy Committee’s policies. The Notes are updated as and when necessary. Copy advice is not offered by Clearcast.

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