Vodafone blasted for talking too fast

September 15, 2016

Vodafone has again crossed swords with the UK Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) – this time for talking too fast in a radio advert.

The commercial in question advertised Vodafone’s unlimited package, which offers customers unlimited calls, text messages and internet access.

Anyone wanting this package has to sign up for an 18 month contract, whilst ‘unlimited’ is subject to a fair use policy, and calls included in the package are strictly limited to dialing up landlines and other Vodafone customers.

A listener complained to the ASA that a 30 word 8 second disclaimer at the end of the advert – explaining the terms and conditions outlined above – was read out so fast that is was impossible to understand.

The ASA, Britain’s watchdog for all things advertising, happened to agree and ordered the advert to be pulled from the air.

Most people speak at an average speed of 60 words per minute.

Vodafone defended the advert by saying that the actor’s voice had not been speeded up, and the terms and conditions were read out at a speed no faster than similar adverts.

The company added that the ASA makes no specification about the speed at which terms and conditions must be read out.

Let’s hope Vodafone don’t get any ideas about banning customers from talking too fast during phone calls.