A complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority about claims on Purplebricks’ website has been informally resolved.
The website stated: “Facts and figures . . . No. 1 . . . 17 days average time to find a buyer . . . 99% of properties sold or let achieve asking price or more . . . 70% of our activity happens when other estate agents are closed.”
The complainant challenged whether the claims “No 1”; “99% of our properties sold or let achieve asking price or more”; and “70% of our activity happens when other estate agents are closed” were misleading.
An ASA spokesperson said: “We approached the advertiser with the concerns that had been raised. We received assurances that it would remove or revise the claims.
“On that basis we considered that the matter had been resolved and we closed the case informally.”
Comments (18)
Pre IPO PurpleBricks claimed that all of their ‘local experts’ were qualified. They knew this was untrue as their recruitment adverts stated qualifications were desirable but not essential. The claim has been quietly dropped but how many investors and customers parted with money on that premise?
What “Qualifications” did they say they had?
Guessing an in-house one?
Not even that SP. They tried to claim that they believed that the experience the agents had ‘qualified’ them as estate agents.
Our ‘local expert’ is an ex mortgage advisor who got kicked off most main stream lenders panels for ‘creative accounting’. He’s never been an agent ever….. The prices he’s coming up with are somewhat interesting.
Surely, if their proposition was as good/effective as they suggest, they would have no reason to fabricate these claims.
In my experience, desperation leads to falsification…
Hmmm… where did the “99% of our properties sold or let achieve asking price or more” claim disappear to?
Only this morning, their Rightmove “Listings” totalled 200 in the last 24 hours – of which SIXTY TWO (31%) were “Reduced…”.
Funny, that.
If the asking price was reduced by the vendor does it still count in their stats?
Good question, FP!
Maybe we will find out on The Glorious 11th…
What happens on the 11th?
Trading update for Year-End- should be… “interesting”. #jackanory
Ahhh i see, be interesting!
Just going to make up some figures so they can be informally resolved as part of my business plan !!
99% of all my business is done when I go swimming !
Gone on prove I’m talking out of my hat.!
It now states 14 days average time and this disclaimer re activity – More than 65% of activity happens when traditional estate agents are closed based on opening hours of 09.00 – 17.30 Mon-Fri, 09.00am – midday on Saturday, closed Sunday and eight bank/public holidays
which I have to say I personally find misleading as I don’t know any agents that close at midday on a Saturday.
Talk about making figures work for you. I wonder what that figure would be if they used a true representation of when most agents are open.
Mislead consumers. Earn income from misleading advertising. Allowed to quietly withdraw claim. No sanctions. Repeat.
Has anyone kept count of theseinformal reolutions?
i use a live receptionist when we close like purple bricks do,.,,how can they say we are closed at 5.30. My staff are out doing viewings as well until 6.30,,they dont even accompany viewings.
Seems all online businesses trade on misleading people about genuine businesses.
RIGHTMOVE should be monitoring this. If quality agents is their thing then purplebricks shoudlt be allowed on it. Not good for the consumer.
What other industry do you know where you pay for the service upfront?? ASA should be investigated for being so soft on every issue affecting honest businesses livelyhoods