BT slapped over "free calls" ad

BT had its wrists slapped by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) on Wednesday for misleading consumers with a “free calls” claim.

Carphone Warehouse blew the whistle on the UK incumbent over three national press ads that promised “Free UK Evening and Weekend calls over the internet” as part of BT’s new Total Broadband package with an 18 month contract.

But as the calls were only available to new customers of the 18 month contract Total Broadband package and not subscribers to an older 12 month contract version, the ASA ruled that internet phone calls were an inclusive part of that new package and should not be described as “free”.