NCR Cracks Down on Misleading Advertising

It is unlawful for advertisements to say “blacklisted consumers welcome”, “no credit checks required” and “free credit.”

“Any of these statements and phrases or any wording that has substantially the same meaning may not form part of any advertisement or direct solicitation for credit,” explained Jacqueline Peters, the head of investigations and enforcement at the National Credit Regulator (NCR).

“The JMPD have partnered with the NCR to assist with its campaign against “misleading advertising.”

NCR Joins Forces with JMPD

Last week, the NCR and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) removed illegal adverts of this nature from traffic signs and lamp posts in the Midrand area. The JMPD have partnered with the NCR to assist with its campaign against “misleading advertising.”

“The NCR is engaging in a concerted effort to eliminate these unlawful adverts…”

Unlawful Adverts

“The National Credit Act is quite clear on the required content for advertisements. Certain words and phrases are prohibited in credit adverts‚” said Peters.

Despite these clear regulations‚ we still find a substantial number of these unlawful adverts of this kind‚ even in the mainstream media.

“The NCR is engaging in a concerted effort to eliminate these unlawful adverts. This will not only affect flyers and posters‚ it will also affect unlawful adverts in the mainstream media.”