Computer giants hit hard by the latest ASA report

The Advertising Standards Authority has in its latest report challenged Compaq, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Apple reseller Computer Warehouse and the Business Software Alliance over their advertising.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has in its latest report challenged Compaq, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Apple reseller Computer Warehouse and the Business Software Alliance (BSA) over their advertising.

Compaq received eight complaints about its press campaign entitled 'Compaq? Who?'. The ASA agreed with the complainant in five of the cases.

It found that Compaq could not claim to be a top systems integrator because it had not used recent research. Compaq was also ordered to remove its claim that it handled 60 per cent of global bank interactions due to the statement being unsubstantiated.

The vendor was forced to admit its claim to be the sole supplier of IT to the world's top 30 telecoms was not true, and it could not prove it supplied 75 per cent of UK ISPs or that it was dominant in the aerospace industry.

The BSA received complaints from the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, Islington Trading Standards and Cambridge reseller Cromwell Business Systems. All claimed direct mail from the BSA was threatening and misleading. However, the ASA agreed the BSA had stayed within its remit.

Computer Warehouse received two complaints but was only reprimanded for one. The firm must ensure its products are advertised with prices including VAT.

Hewlett Packard was forced to withdraw claims that its inkjet printers had a unique low ink warning system due to Epson already having a similar system. Intel escaped a reprimand by proving its Pentium III did offer improved internet performance.