Lloyds tsb Home Insurance advertisement misleading ?

oldbill1969

I have recently taken Lloyds tsb home insurance, buildings & contents after reading their latest publicity mailshot in the Daily Mail. The offer was that if you take out both the buildings & contents you would get 50% cashback on the contents premium.
I checked the small print at the top of the mailshot and it stated that it was only applicable if you were to call or go on-line.
Further down the small print it stated that the offer was only available where no other promotional discount had been applied.
After having checked my premium after completing I noticed that there was no mention about receiving the 50 % cashback.
I contacted Lloyds where I was told that as I had received an online discount the offer was not applicable. I tried without success to argue that an online discount is not a promotional discount and that nowhere was it mentioned either in the mailshot or on the the website that you were ineligible for the 50% cashback. I further enquired as to why it stated in the small print that to take up the offer it could be done by telephone or on-line when in fact you were ineligible by applying on-line as there was no option to take either the on-line discount or the promotion.
I continued in vain without success. Is it me or do others think it is misleading ?

Astaroth

I have to say that I would agree with them that an online discount is promotional however their advertising is certainly poor if their online system doesnt give you the option to "deselect" the online discount to allow you to take advantage of this offer.

I would firstly double check the flyer to make sure it does say on the phone or online and send a letter of complaint with a photocopy of the flyer outlining your case.

Obviously if you havent bought the policy or have and then cancelled it you are unlikely to get anything more than an apology

oldbill1969

The flyer definately says phone or on-line. I have now been in touch with the OFT and they agree that it seems misleading and has passed it onto Trading Standards.
Surely if the option is either to call or purchase on-line it deceives people into thinking that the discount will apply when they furnish their details on-line. Why bother to invite peole to take up the offer online when you clearly can't. I shall post when I get further contact from Trading Standards.

mattymoo

I would agree that it is misleading and I'd suggest you write to the ASA as well.
(Ad Standards Agency)