What’s wrong with this statement?
By Michael StelznerWhile driving in my car, I heard an ad about debt consolidation.
The voice talent said, “Consolidate your debt by up to 50 percent, or more!”
He repeated that statement three times.
So here’s my question to you: What’s wrong with this statement? Is it deceptive advertising?
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June 16th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Up-to includes anything up-to and cannot be more, and yes I agree this is deceptive advertising that should be “reported” as not everyone would dissect it. Its as if they were looking for listeners to hear 50% or more.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
When no concrete figures are quoted, they can not be held to their advertised claims, so this must then surely rank as misleading advertising.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:03 am
It’s mathematically incorrect.
“Debt consolidation” is not the same as “debt reduction.”
Debt consolidation is taking out a single loan to pay off all existing debtors. The objective of debt consolidation is to reduce the number of debtors, not the total amount of debt.
So, it’s either deceptive advertising, or just a really dumb copywriter.
t.
June 17th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I agree with Toby - “consolidation” means simply to bring together two or more things in unity, dissolving their previous individual entities.
The statement “by 50% or more” implies a REDUCTION…
June 17th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Deceptive or not doesn’t matter. It’s confusing and the average listener will probably ignore it rather than try to figure out what the message said. Furthermore, it would be too hard to remember it.
June 17th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Wondering if they didn’t hire any advertising consultant. I believe this will affect their reputation.
June 18th, 2008 at 3:23 am
I think it means that you will combine 50% or more of your total debt with one loan company and scatter the rest amongst other creditors, probably at higher interest rates, leaving you worse off than before. They are selling loans, not trying to help you get out of debt.
They are implying that you will REDUCE your debt by 50% or more. Use a microscope to read the fine print before you sign.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Completely agree with Colleen Murphy:
“hey are selling loans, not trying to help you get out of debt.”
June 18th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Hey Mike,
LOL - “What’s wrong with this statement?” — well, that statement is a question! (I know you weren’t trying to be ironic, but that’s beautiful! Reminds me of the children’s riddle: Mississippi is a long word. Can you spell “it”?)
Anyway, I don’t think the radio ad is deceptive — in the legal perspective anyway. It just makes no sense. No matter what they are selling, a court of law isn’t going to accept the fact that an individual signed a contract with a financial organization *simply because what they believed they heard on a radio commercial*. If the person didn’t read the contract, it doesn’t really matter what got him in the office in the first place. And there are no real promises in the ad, so it isn’t false advertising.
But don’t get me wrong — I wouldn’t call them…
~Graham
June 19th, 2008 at 7:39 am
I agree with Meryl. Some marketers, in their efforts to slip in a change up past the consumer with deceptive wording, deceive themselves. The ad is confusing and unclear. It is simply bad copywriting that serves no purpose.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Yes that’s definately deceptive advertising. At first you when you hear that ad you think that they can reduce your debt by 50% or more. If you stop and think about it though that’s impossible. You can’t even file personal bankruptcy anymore and get away without paying 100% of any federal student loan debt.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:09 am
I do agree with the above folks. The key thing is the replacement of CONSOLIDATION into REDUCTION!
July 24th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Yeap, that definitely is deceptive advertising. I had my debt consolidated, and yes, my interest rates were lowered but my debt is gonna remain at the same amount unless I pay it off. Everybody’s looking for the easy way out, but sometimes the obvious way out is the right way out.
July 26th, 2008 at 4:09 am
I think the fact the repeated the statement 3 times is wrong, and the claim is wrong but some of these companies in the U.K claim to reduce your debts by up to 70%.
I think the only way you can do the 70% reduction is to offer a lump sum and threaten bankruptcy, you can do it yourself aswell.
December 18th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I agree it’s deceptive advertising , but I think you can’t report them with this statement alone.
The most you can do is spread you skepticism and opinion of this ad ( like what your doing now) so that other people will look at it with more scrutiny.