UAB TELE2 – FINED FOR THE VIOLATION OF THE LAW ON ADVERTISING

Having assessed the findings of the investigation conducted in response to the complaint of a user and having listened to the explanations of interested parties the Competition Council passed the resolution to impose a pecuniary fine of LTL 15,000 upon UAB Tele2 for the use of the misleading advertising. The company was also obligated to cease the use of the misleading advertising and disclaim the misleading advertising claim in an established procedure.

Having regard to the requirements of Article 5 of the Law on Advertising as misleading was recognised the statement "show this coupon in a TELE2 showroom and purchase the charge card for 30 percent less" published in the newspaper Studento dienoraštis 2006/2007. During the investigation it was established that the advertising claim published by UAB TELE2 in the newspaper is incomplete and therefore was misleading the advertising users willing to purchase the charge Pildyk at a 30 percent discount. The advertising statement could have affected the economic behaviour of the user by omitting a piece of information on the time period within which, using the coupon, the user could have purchased the charge card for Pildyk account at 30 percent less. Furthermore, the advertising statement did not indicate that coupon could be used only by students of one of the nine educational establishments (universities and colleges) in which the publication Studento dienoraštis 2006/2007 (circulation of 100,000 copies). The investigation showed that being misled by the incomplete information in the coupon the user could have reasonably expected that upon producing the coupon in any of the TELE2 showrooms the discount will be available for an unlimited period of time and to any person.