New York, NY – October 31, 2023 – In a challenge brought by Bath & Body Works, LLC (B&BW), the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs determined that the tagline “Bath, Body & Home” was not misleading, but recommended that Goose Creek Candles, LLC:
- Discontinue certain claims regarding the ingredients found in competitor’s products.
- Discontinue the challenged claims that Goose Creek candles have longer lasting and stronger fragrances than its competitors.
- Modify its “Made in USA” claims.
- Modify disclosures used in connection with advertising featuring actors portraying consumers.
- Require the @TheCandleChannel vlogger to disclose material connections in certain videos.
- Modify consumer posts to disclose incentivized reviews.
Ingredient Claims
NAD found that one message reasonably conveyed by Goose Creek’s “avoid the harmful chemicals found in other body care products” claim is that other competitive body care products contain harmful chemicals. NAD determined that the record did not support this claim and recommended that it be discontinued, as well as implied claims that competitors’ products contain harmful chemicals.
Fragrance Claims
NAD determined that the advertising at issue conveys the message that Goose Creek candles last longer and have a stronger fragrance than competitors. NAD found insufficient evidence to support these superiority claims and recommended the following fragrance claims by Goose Creek be discontinued:
- “When it comes to fragrance, Goose Creek beats the competition time and time again”
- “So much stronger than other store brands”
- “Stronger, longer-lasting fragrances!”
NAD also recommended that Goose Creek discontinue any advertising that implies that Goose Creek candles are stronger or longer lasting than competing candles.
Made in U.S.A. Claims
NAD recommended that Goose Creek modify its “Made in USA” claims (“poured in the USA with the highest ingredients from around the world”) to be consistent with FTC guidance and limit claims to the processes or candle ingredients that are made in the USA.
Endorsements
NAD determined that several videos across Goose Creek’s online platforms convey the message that people featured are actually consumers, not actors, who are giving their opinions. NAD recommended that any Goose Creek content featuring actors portraying consumers be modified to clearly and conspicuously disclose, in both audio and video, that actors have been employed in the videos.
Further, NAD reviewed videos posted by a candle vlogger @TheCandleChannel, who became a label designer for Goose Creek Candles in July 2023. NAD determined that Goose Creek’s relationship with @TheCandleChannel vlogger is a connection that would likely affect the weight or credibility of the endorsements and is a material connection that must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed.
For this reason, NAD recommended that Goose Creek require @TheCandleChannel to modify any video created after the date of employment with Goose Creek to include a clear and conspicuous material connection disclosure.
Consumer Reviews
B&BW challenged consumer reviews that appear on Goose Creek’s website as well as 5-star video reviews. NAD found there was no evidence that Goose Creek’s review collection process persuades consumers to leave only positive reviews and determined that Goose Creek’s review collection process incentivizes both positive and negative reviews.
However, because Goose Creek’s incentivized consumer reviews are not disclosed, NAD recommended that all consumer reviews posted or re-posted by Goose Creek be modified to include a clear and conspicuous disclosure that the review was incentivized.
Tagline
NAD determined that the tagline “Bath, Body & Home” does not convey a misleading message that equates Goose Creek products with B&BW products.
In its advertiser statement, Goose Creek stated that “while Goose Creek believes that its advertising verbiage and methods have truthfully conveyed the many benefits of its products, it appreciates the NAD’s thorough review and guidance” and “agrees to comply with the NAD’s recommendations regarding its advertising.”
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.
Contact Information
Name: Jennie Rosenberg
Email: jrosenberg@bbbnp.org
Job Title: Media Relations
Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Refers Sweet Minerals Product Performance and Earnings Claims to the FTC and Maryland AG for Possible Enforcement Action
McLean, VA – October 25, 2023 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) of BBB National Programs has referred direct selling company Sweet Minerals, LLC to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office for possible enforcement action. The referral comes after Sweet Minerals failed to respond to a DSSRC inquiry into earnings and product performance claims made on social media by its salesforce members.
DSSRC is an independent national advertising self-regulation program that monitors advertising and marketing claims in the direct selling industry. Sweet Minerals is a direct selling company that markets makeup, personal care, skincare, and cosmetics products.
The earnings and product performance claims at issue in this case include, but are not limited to:
Earnings Claims
- “Unlimited income”
- “part-time or full-time income”
- “Grow a team and earn recurring monthly income if desired! …win prizes such as past trips to Cancun, Montego Bay and Punta Cana with the Sweet Minerals team!”
- “I have made over $500 cash in my wallet, over $600 free makeup money, and all kinds of free goodies in less than 90 days!!
Product Performance Claims
- “I have in the past had dermatitis…I had tried all kinds of creams from the doctors and everything but nothing ever healed it…now that I’m using healthy products that are natural it has actually transformed my skin to be absolutely amazing.”
- “I was diagnosed with Rosacea at 24, and have struggled for many years to find relief. Over the course of a few weeks wearing the Sweet Minerals makeup, I noticed a remarkable decrease in the frequency and intensity of my skin flare ups and irritation”
DSSRC determined that these posts expressly and inaccurately claim that Sweet Minerals salesforce members can earn full-time and/or unlimited income, receive free trips, and that Sweet Minerals’ products can effectively treat serious skin conditions.
After multiple attempts, Sweet Minerals has failed to respond to DSSRC’s inquiry to provide substantiation for the challenged claims, including competent and reliable scientific evidence to support the health-related product performance claims. Pursuant to DSSRC Policies and Procedures, Sweet Minerals has now been referred to the FTC and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office for possible enforcement action.
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of DSSRC decisions, visit the DSSRC Cases and Closures webpage.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council: The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), a division of BBB National Programs, provides independent, impartial monitoring, dispute resolution, and enforcement of false product claims and income representations made by direct selling companies and their salesforce members across digital platforms. The DSSRC seeks to establish high standards of integrity and business ethics for all direct selling companies in the marketplace.
Contact Information
Name: Jennie Rosenberg
Email: jrosenberg@bbbnp.org
Job Title: Media Relations
MICHELIN introduces two new light truck offers with the Defender LTX M/S2 and Defender LTX Platinum, continuing leadership in longevity and durability
- When tested for treadwear on a diesel pickup truck, the Michelin Defender LTX Platinum tire lasted twice as long as the Defender LTX M/S.
- The Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 tire outlasted three leading competitive tires by more than 25,000 miles on a treadwear test, delivering two extra years of treadlife.
GREENVILLE, S.C.– As the light truck market continues to evolve and luxury vehicles push the capabilities of what heavy duty trucks can offer, Michelin is launching the new Defender LTX M/S2 and Defender LTX Platinum tires to provide consumers rugged durability, no matter the season.
“Light truck consumers have new demands and desires for their vehicles compared to previous generations, and Michelin is answering the call by upgrading the LTX tire line,” said Debora Junca, senior brand director for Michelin North America, Inc. “Creating new products like the Defender LTX Platinum and Defender LTX M/S2 tires delivers on our promise of longevity without compromise by being the leader in mileage. When a consumer sees the LTX name, they can trust in the performance over the life of the tire.”
Continuing the LTX legacy as one of the premier light truck tires in the market, the Defender LTX M/S2 tire uses the updated Evertread 2.0 compound to provide the best treadwear performance with excellent wet and snow grip throughout the life of the tire. Showcasing a 70,000-mile warranty for Euro-Metric sizes and a 50,000-mile warranty for LT-Metric, the Defender LTX M/S2 tire will have 53 sizes providing coverage on all 2013 or newer pickups and traditional SUVs.
Meeting the needs of the growing heavy-duty and luxury pickup truck market, the new Defender LTX Platinum tire will offer six 20” rim sizes with cutting-edge aesthetics and dramatically better treadlife than its competitive set. Featuring a 70,000-mile warranty, the all-new tread pattern and compound of the Defender LTX Platinum – derived from Michelin heavy truck technology – delivers outstanding wet and snow grip throughout the life of the tire.
Ensuring the tradition of comfort for Michelin LTX tires, both the Defender LTX M/S2 and Defender LTX Platinum tires are designed for smooth, even wear, so the last mile is as comfortably quiet as the first mile. Sizes for both tires will launch in stages over the next several months.
To find out which sizes are available today, please visit michelinman.com.
About Michelin North America, Inc.
Michelin, the leading mobility company, is working with tires, around tires and beyond tires to enable Motion for Life. Dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility and sustainability, Michelin designs and distributes the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its customers’ needs. Michelin provides digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences. Bringing its expertise to new markets, the company is investing in high-technology materials, 3D printing and hydrogen, to serve a wide variety of industries — from aerospace to biotech. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, Michelin North America, Inc. has approximately 23,000 employees and operates 34 production facilities in the United States and Canada. (michelinman.com)
For more information contact:
Contact: Christian Fisher
Email: christian.fisher@michelin.com | www.michelinmedia.com
LexisNexis Launches Lexis+ AI, a Generative AI Solution with Hallucination-Free, Linked Legal Citations
New solution transforms legal work with the fastest legal generative AI on the market, delivering fully encrypted, secure interactions with accurate results in seconds
NEW YORK – LexisNexis® Legal & Professional, a leading global provider of information and analytics, today announced general availability of Lexis+ AI™ for U.S. customers, a generative AI solution designed to transform legal work. Lexis+ AI delivers trusted results in a familiar, easy-to-use interface with hallucination-free, linked legal citations that combine the power of generative AI with proprietary LexisNexis search technology, Shepard’s® Citations functionality, and authoritative content.
Developed with commercial preview users from leading global law firms, corporate legal departments, small law firms, and U.S. courts, Lexis+ AI answers are grounded in the world’s largest repository of accurate and exclusive legal content from LexisNexis. Lexis+ AI provides comprehensive results in seconds versus minutes, making it multiple times faster than any other legal generative AI solution available today. The solution’s AI capabilities were built internally at LexisNexis with world-leading tech partnerships, enabling the company to rapidly introduce new features and technology in a native environment and provide customers with a seamlessly integrated ecosystem.
Lexis+ AI is the only legal generative AI solution with citations linked in its responses, providing trusted legal results backed by verifiable authority. It minimizes the risk of invented content, or hallucinations, and checks all citations against Shepard’s to ensure citation validation. The solution also offers users the ability to input specific citations to verify accuracy and flag when a citation might be wrong. Customers can give instant feedback within the product to continually improve product performance, content relevance, and overall product accuracy.
Lexis+ AI features conversational search, intelligent legal drafting, insightful summarization, and document upload capabilities, all supported by state-of-the-art encryption and privacy technology to keep sensitive data secure:
Conversational search simplifies complex and time-consuming legal research by enabling users to conversationally interact with Lexis+ AI, explore new insights, and ask for adjusted and refined output.
Document drafting instantly produces legal arguments, contract clauses, and client communications from a simple user prompt.
Summarization functionality delivers case summaries in seconds with more content and capabilities coming soon.
Document upload capabilities enable users to rapidly analyze, summarize, and extract key insights from legal documents.
Lexis+ AI offers industry-leading data security and attention to privacy. Uploaded documents are always purged at the end of each session and users can easily manage or delete their prompt conversation history. The solution is continually improving with hundreds of thousands of rated answer samples by LexisNexis legal subject matter experts used for model tuning. LexisNexis employs over 2,000 technologists, data scientists, and subject matter experts to develop, test, and validate its solutions and deliver comprehensive, accurate information.
“This is a moment unlike any we’ve seen in the legal industry, and we are delighted to deliver generative AI that will safely and securely accelerate our customers’ success,” said Sean Fitzpatrick, CEO of LexisNexis North America, UK, and Ireland. “Lexis+ AI gives legal professionals a significant competitive advantage by driving improved speed, productivity, and work quality gains for law firms and their clients.”
LexisNexis deploys ethical, powerful generative AI solutions with a flexible, multi-model approach that prioritizes using the best model for each individual legal use case. This approach includes working with large language models like Anthropic’s Claude 2, hosted on Amazon Bedrock from Amazon Web Services (AWS), and OpenAI’s GPT-4 and ChatGPT, hosted on Microsoft Azure.
“It’s gratifying to see our longstanding relationship and joint innovation with LexisNexis Legal & Professional continue to grow, especially in this new era of generative AI,” said Scott Liska, Vice President, Strategic Accounts, Amazon Web Services. “LexisNexis was an early adopter of Amazon Bedrock, using the service to customize a foundation model and launch Lexis+ AI on AWS. The result is a cloud solution that dramatically improves productivity for legal professionals, harnessing the power of LexisNexis’ search and legal citation technology and our shared commitment to security and privacy.”
“Together with the LexisNexis team, we have built a custom, fine-tuned model that achieves significant performance gains in legal use cases such as drafting legal memos, identifying relevant case law, and legal document summarization and upload, while prioritizing safety,” said Neerav Kingsland, Anthropic’s Head of Strategic Partnerships. “Our companies are working together to build responsible AI solutions that boost efficiency and productivity for legal professionals, and we are excited about how Lexis+ AI will start to transform their work.”
LexisNexis is responsibly developing legal AI solutions with human oversight. LexisNexis, part of RELX, follows the RELX Responsible AI Principles, considering the real-world impact of its solutions on people and taking action to prevent the creation or reinforcement of unfair bias.
The Lexis+ AI Insider program, which is open to all legal professionals, is designed to support the legal industry with generative AI education and LexisNexis breaking news on the latest AI developments. More than 12,000 Insiders have signed up to be among the first to experience Lexis+ AI. To sign up for the Lexis+ AI Insider program, visit www.lexisnexis.com/ai-insider.
With unprecedented pre-sales of Lexis+ AI, onboarding for customers in the U.S. is currently being scheduled. For more information on Lexis+ AI and to sign up for a demo, visit www.lexisnexis.com/ai.
About LexisNexis Legal & Professional
LexisNexis Legal & Professional provides legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that help customers increase their productivity, improve decision-making, achieve better outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis® and Nexis® services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 150 countries with 11,300 employees worldwide, is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
Media Contact
Dana Greenstein
Director of Communications, North America & UK
LexisNexis Legal & Professional
212-448-2163
dana.greenstein@lexisnexis.com
Southern Stars Shine in Premiere of MICHELIN Guide Atlanta
- Five restaurants receive a MICHELIN Star in inaugural selection
- City boasts two restaurants earning MICHELIN Green Star
- 10 Bib Gourmand, plus four Special Awards, also revealed
- 45 total restaurants, 23 cuisine types reflected in Guide
ATLANTA, Oct. 24, 2023 — The first MICHELIN Guide Atlanta has been revealed, and the selection features five one-MICHELIN-Star establishments and two MICHELIN Green Star eateries. Bacchanalia brought home one of each.
The full selection, including Bib Gourmand restaurants and Recommended eateries, totals 45 restaurants. Chefs and restaurant teams were honored Tuesday night at the Rialto Center for the Arts.
“Our famously anonymous inspectors enjoyed experiencing Atlanta and its dynamic culinary landscape,” said Gwendal Poullennec, the International Director of the MICHELIN Guides. “They came away impressed with the diverse offerings, as the selection of restaurants not only reflects a taste of the South, but also has a good deal of international flavor. There is so much for foodies to savor here. Whether they’re local residents or international travelers, they’re in for a treat!”
Here are the new one-MICHELIN-Star restaurants, with inspector notes from each (Inspectors’ comments in full on the MICHELIN Guide website and mobile app):
One MICHELIN Star
Atlas (American cuisine)
When the night calls for a grand celebration, few places fit quite like Atlas. Order à la carte from Chef Freddy Money’s seasonal American menu with European influences or celebrate with the tasting menu for dishes like tender lobster plated with smoked paprika butter sauce and heirloom summer squash, and poached halibut composed with a trio of beet preparations. Wagyu beef from Australia is a decadent end to the savory courses. Impressive cocktails, a cheese cart and whimsical desserts complete the well-rounded experience.
Bacchanalia (American cuisine)
Chefs/Owners Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison and Executive Chef Kai NaLampoon offer a multicourse prix fixe that involves a bit of flair, with some dishes arriving on carts or nestled inside glass cloches, and the cheese course is a wonderful surprise. Rather than an expected slice, the team presents a clever take with a crumbly oat date cake and a dot of black garlic sauce surrounded by rings of parmesan. Chilled lobster in a ponzu sauce with bright English peas and horseradish oil is also memorable, but it may just be the delicate grapefruit soufflé garnished with spicy pistachio crumble and rose crème anglaise that takes the cake.
Hayakawa (Japanese cuisine)
A local legend for his Japanese cuisine on Buford Highway, Chef Atsushi Hayakawa has begun a new chapter in West Midtown. The meal is a procession of small courses and hews toward the structure of kaiseki. After items such as an appetizer trio with clear fish soup, scallop sashimi with miso-mustard sauce and simmered monkfish, it’s time for sushi. The chef crafts nigiri from imported fish that needs little embellishment and is amply sized in the tradition of Hokkaido style in deference to the chef’s hometown.
Lazy Betty (Contemporary cuisine)
Chef Ron Hsu and Chef Aaron Phillips oversee a contemporary tasting menu with clever flavor combinations that highlight regional ingredients. Causa is given a Southern slant with sweet Georgia shrimp, avocado purée and potato foam infused with aji amarillo pepper, while seared Hudson Valley foie gras is sided by Granny Smith apple, sweet potato and dots of pumpkin butter. From the pre-dessert lemon sherbet with a coconut crumble to the elegant rosewater panna cotta, they impress to the end.
Mujō (Japanese cuisine)
Mujō is an intimate setting with a moody elegance. This is the domain of Chef J. Trent Harris and his skilled team who make all feel well cared for. Here, tradition has been replaced with a rollicking good time, where the always-surprising interpretation of omakase begin with an array of zensai, like a morsel of Florida cobia grilled over binchotan, dressed with a red miso sauce and some local pattypan squash. After some cooked bites, it’s time for the raw. Nigiri needs little to impress, while supplemental dishes offer the likes of Hokkaido hair crab, tosazu and mozuku.
MICHELIN Green Star
Bacchanalia (American cuisine)
Chefs own and operate Summerland Farm in Cartersville, Georgia, where they grow much of their produce and harvest eggs. They also have a composting program, and they feed chickens with vegetable scraps.
The Chastain (American cuisine)
Chef Christopher Grossman’s menu changes often, depending on what’s available from local farm partners and in his onsite regenerative-farmed garden. The Chastain recently joined Georgia Organics to help quantify local and organic food purchases. The team composts on site and also uses a compost company to reduce landfill waste. They also recycle glass and use compostable carryout containers.
Bib Gourmand
The MICHELIN Guide inspectors gave 10 restaurants the Bib Gourmand distinction, which recognizes eateries for great food at a great value: Antico Pizza Napoletana, Arepa Mia, Banshee, Bomb Biscuit Co., The Busy Bee, Estrellita, Fishmonger, Fred’s Meat & Bread, Heirloom Market BBQ, and Little Bear.
MICHELIN Special Awards
In addition to the Bib Gourmand and Stars, the Guide announced four Special Awards:
The MICHELIN Guide Ceremony is presented with the support of Capital One.
Hotels
The restaurants join the MICHELIN Guide selection of hotels, which features the most unique and exciting places to stay in Georgia and throughout the world.
Each hotel in the selection has been chosen by MICHELIN Guide experts for its extraordinary style, service and personality — with options for all budgets — and each can be booked directly through the MICHELIN Guide website and app. The selection for Georgia features the state’s most spectacular hotels, including design-forward boutiques like the Clermont in Atlanta and the Perry Lane in Savannah, standouts from our “Plus” collection like the intimate Stonehurst Place, music-inspired college-town haunts like Graduate Athens, and dependable luxury-boutique stalwarts like the Thompson and the Andaz.
The MICHELIN Guide is a benchmark in gastronomy. Now it’s setting a new standard for hotels. Visit the MICHELIN Guide website, or download the free app for iOS and Android, to discover every restaurant in the selection and book an unforgettable hotel.
About Michelin North America, Inc.
Michelin, the leading mobility company, is working with tires, around tires and beyond tires to enable Motion for Life. Dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility and sustainability, Michelin designs and distributes the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its customers’ needs. Michelin provides digital services, maps and guides to help enrich travel and make them unique experiences. Bringing its expertise to new markets, the company is investing in high-technology materials, 3D printing and hydrogen, to serve a wide variety of industries — from aerospace to biotech. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, Michelin North America has approximately 23,000 employees and operates 34 production facilities in the United States and Canada. (michelinman.com)
About Capital One
At Capital One we’re on a mission for our customers – bringing them best-in-class products, rewards, service, and experiences. Capital One is a diversified bank that offers products and services to individuals, small businesses and commercial clients. We use technology, innovation, and interaction to provide consumers with products and services to meet their needs. Through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment, we provide our rewards cardholders with access to unforgettable experiences in the areas they’re passionate about, including dining, music and sports. Learn more at capitalone.com/dining and capitalone.com/entertainment.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Festa
Michelin North America
andrew.festa@michelin.com
Devon Gunn
Capital One
devon.gunn@capitalone.com
Phone: 571-308-4762
Mint Mobile Appeals National Advertising Division Recommendation to Modify or Discontinue ”Unlimited Plan” and Disparaging Verizon Claims
New York, NY – October 24, 2023 – In a challenge brought by Verizon Communications Inc., the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that Mint Mobile, LLC:
- Discontinue or modify the claim that its Unlimited Plan is “now just $15/mo.”;
- Discontinue the claim that it “cut[s] out the cost of retail service and passed those sweet savings directly to you”; and
- Discontinue falsely disparaging claims about Verizon’s services and business practices.
Mint Mobile offers prepaid phone plans, which, unlike plans offered by Verizon and other major wireless carriers, require customers to pay up front before receiving service. Mint Mobile’s $15/mo. price for its Unlimited Plan is a promotional rate that is only in effect for three months. After three months of service, the monthly rate increases with the exact amount of the increase dependent on which plan the consumer selects.
In banner ads, on social media, podcasts, and in a television commercial, Mint Mobile advertises that the price of its Unlimited Plan is “now just $15/mo.” NAD found that the challenged advertising does not adequately disclose that the $15 monthly service for its Unlimited Plan is a promotional offer for only three months service. Accordingly, NAD recommended that Mint Mobile discontinue the claim that its Unlimited Plan is “now just $15/mo.” or clearly and conspicuously disclose, as part of the main claim or in similar size text and font in close proximity to the main claim, that the offer is a promotional offer for three months of service that requires a $45 upfront payment.
NAD recommended that Mint Mobile discontinue the claim that it “cut[s] out the cost of retail service and passed those sweet savings directly to you” because it did not provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that it in fact “passes along” savings to consumers.
NAD determined that certain claims made by Mint Mobile in social media convey broad messages about Verizon’s service and business practices. For example, the claims “Ver!zon Victim finally catching on to their shadiness” and “POV: “Ver!zon distracting us so we don’t realize they are now charging for perks,” portray Verizon as dishonest in its approach to consumers and how it prices its services.
Further, NAD found that some claims do not focus on any particular reason why consumers would be disadvantaged by purchasing one of Verizon’s bundled offers for streaming services but rather disparage Verizon’s practices more broadly. For example, Mint Mobile invokes Verizon’s bundled offers by referring to them as a “Bundlef*!”
Because Mint Mobile did not adequately support these broad disparaging messages, NAD recommended that it discontinue the claims:
- “#verizonsucks”
- “Ver!zon Victim finally catching on to their shadiness.”
- “Ver!zon employee trying to convince you that paying for streaming services you used to get for free is a good thing.”
- “POV: “Ver!zon distracting us so we don’t realize they are now charging for perks.”
- “Ver!zon Victim, “Beware of the Bundlef*!”
- “What a Bundlef*! “Ver!zon’s ‘perks’ are now on you. Don’t let them stream you along.”
NAD noted that nothing in its decision precludes Mint Mobile from making truthful and non-misleading claims comparing its services with Verizon’s.
During the inquiry, Mint Mobile voluntarily permanently discontinued certain challenged claims. Therefore, NAD did not review those claims on the merits.
In its advertiser statement, Mint Mobile stated that it will appeal NAD’s decision in its entirety because it disagrees with NAD’s conclusions that it did not adequately disclose the limitations of its $15/mo. offer and did not substantiate its claim regarding passing along savings to consumers. Mint Mobile further disagreed with NAD’s conclusions regarding its social media posts, stating that it “is proud to challenge the status quo by issuing barbs about its competitors on social media – and substantiating any specific claims it makes about them – in an environment that encourages robust dialogue.”
Appeals of NAD decisions are made to the BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Review Board (NARB), the appellate-level truth-in-advertising body of BBB National Programs.
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.
Contact Information
Name: Jennie Rosenberg
jrosenberg@bbbnp.org
Job Title: Media Relations
SHP Announced as Recipient of the 2023 James D. MacConnell Award for Winton Woods City Schools
Cincinnati, OH – The SHP-designed campuses of the Winton Woods City School District in Cincinnati, Ohio were honored as the recipient of the 2023 James D. MacConnell Award—widely recognized as the most prestigious international award for school planning and design.
View the project’s submission video here.
The highly respected MacConnell Award recognizes excellence in educational facility planning and design. It is bestowed upon a project that employs a detailed process to support the educational goals of the district, reflects the needs of a community, and delivers active and dynamic learning opportunities. The juried competition highlighted SHP’s focus on student voice in the design process and attention to unique pedagogical needs, while noting the resulting designs’ ability to serve as a tool for equity in student outcomes and achievement.
The win reflects a years-long collaborative process of stakeholder engagement, educational visioning and iterative planning that made it possible for SHP to deliver two beautiful, innovative campuses that uniquely meet the needs of the curriculum and community. The buildings foster a supportive community for the students and advance the district’s commitment to project-based learning (PBL), a pedagogical approach to learning that is still considered cutting-edge more than 10 years after the district introduced it.
“[We] accept this award on behalf of Alex, Lorenzo, Gottfried, Alejandra, Cheyenne, Innocent and Tia and the rest of the many, many kids who helped us see what they needed their building to be. Who gave us a glimpse, thanks to their wisdom and their vision, of what learning could actually look like. Congratulations, kids, great job!” said Jeff Parker, SHP’s Director of Visioning, who accepted the award.
“Winton Woods is a testament to how transformative educational facilities can be when they prioritize and value the students they serve,” said Eric Martin, principal of Winton Woods High School. “And that’s the bottom line: our young people are worth it. The dream, the vision and the effort to deliver this unbelievable learning space gives me goosebumps, and it’s thrilling to now have all that hard work recognized within such a prestigious award program.”
Winton Woods—a culturally inclusive, open enrollment district serving approximately 4,000 students—transformed its pedagogical approach and moved to PBL in 2011. However, the 1960s-era building conditions made it challenging to implement the curriculum.
Over four years, SHP engaged all voices and perspectives (more than 1,000 stakeholders over 150+ meetings) to develop the best solution for students, teachers, the district and the community: consolidating six buildings into two campuses. The North Campus (a 248,000sf building serving 1,600 students in grades 7-12) opened in March 2021; the South Campus (a 206,000sf building designed to serve up to 1,900 in grades 1-6) opened the following August.
Both campuses deliver personalized, unique learning environments to meet the district’s PBL model. Each school features 12 small learning communities (SLCs) of roughly 150 students; each SLC comprises dedicated spaces for traditional, collaborative, interdisciplinary, presentation and hands-on learning, all wrapped around a central collaboration zone. Instead of assigned classrooms, teachers can check out spaces on instructional needs. Meanwhile, an innovative distributed dining system takes advantage of the square footage typically assigned to a cafeteria to support learning more directly and easily.
Winton Woods was one of four finalists in the competition, which also included schools in Brisbane, Australia, Spokane, Washington and Washington, DC. The award was announced Sunday, Oct. 15 at the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) LearningSCAPES Conference in Chicago.
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ABOUT SHP
SHP is an award-winning team of dynamic architects, designers and engineers who maximize the utility, beauty and wonder of space. The firm applies its signature expertise and passion—as well as a multidisciplinary approach—to create lasting environments that simply help people engage in better human experiences. Learn more about SHP’s planning, architecture, interior design, engineering, construction administration and facilities management services at SHP.com.
Contact Information
Name: Lauren Doyle
Email:ldoyle@wordsworthweb.com
Job Title: Communication Specialist
Smarter Travel Voluntarily Discontinues “80% Off” Claim in National Advertising Division Fast-Track SWIFT Case
New York, NY – October 18, 2023 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs has closed a Fast-Track SWIFT challenge initiated by Fareportal Inc., operator of the online travel agency websites CheapOAir.com and OneTravel, regarding advertising by Smarter Travel Media LLC.
Fast-Track SWIFT is an expedited process designed for single-issue advertising cases brought to NAD.
Fareportal challenged Smarter Travel’s “80% off” travel bookings claim featured in search engine ads for BookingBuddy.com, including Google searches for “CheapOAir” with headlines such as “80% Off Cheap Flights? – 80% Off Student Flights?”
Fareportal argued that the challenged claim was not supported. In response to Fareportal’s SWIFT challenge, Smarter Travel informed NAD that during the inquiry it was voluntarily and permanently discontinuing all variations of its “80% off” claim in its online advertising. Therefore, NAD did not review the claim on its merits and will treat the claim, for compliance purposes, as though NAD recommended it be discontinued.
Smarter Travel agreed to comply. In its advertiser statement, Smarter Travel stated that its “search engine listings have included headlines framed as disbelieving questions – i.e., ‘80% Off . . . ?’ It added “Smarter Travel continues to view such phrasing as properly inviting healthy skepticism on the part of consumers. Yet, we acknowledge the view that at least some readers could misconstrue it as making an affirmative (albeit implied) claim.”
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.
Contact Information
Name: Jennie Rosenberg
Email: jrosenberg@bbbnp.org
Job Title: Media Relations
National Advertising Division Finds Additional Disclosures for Spectrum Mobile “Speed Boost” Claim Not Needed in Spectrum Mobile Commercial
New York, NY – October 13, 2023 – In a Fast-Track SWIFT challenge brought by AT&T Services, Inc., the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs determined that no additional or more prominent disclosures regarding Spectrum Mobile’s “Speed Boost” feature were necessary in a thirty-second commercial for Charter Communication, Inc.’s Spectrum Mobile and Spectrum One Mobile home internet services.
Spectrum One is Charter’s brand name for converged product offerings that include Spectrum Internet, Spectrum Advanced WiFi, and Spectrum Mobile. Speed Boost is a technology that lets Spectrum Mobile customers receive faster wireless speeds on their Spectrum Mobile devices when connected to their Spectrum home WiFi network.
Fast-Track SWIFT is an expedited process designed for single-issue advertising cases brought to NAD. At issue for NAD was whether Charter should make more prominent disclosures regarding Speed Boost to avoid a misleading or unsupported claim. AT&T argued that the commercial failed to effectively disclose the limitations of Speed Boost while conveying a misleading message about the performance and availability of the feature.
In the challenged commercial, a voiceover states “At Spectrum Mobile, you get more with your mobile!” along with an on-screen list of product features, including “Unlimited Data. Unlimited Talk & Text. Reliable Coverage. Nationwide 5G. Secure WiFi. Speed Boost.” The end of the commercial displays a promotional offer for Spectrum One with a disclosure that states “Speed Boost available on Spectrum Mobile devices when connected to Spectrum Advanced WiFi.”
NAD determined that the advertising reasonably conveys the message that Speed Boost is one feature available to Spectrum Mobile customers as part of having the combined Spectrum One service and does not convey a broader message about the performance, availability, or access to Speed Boost.
In this context, NAD determined that no additional or more prominent disclosures regarding Speed Boost were necessary.
In its advertiser statement, Charter stated that it “appreciates NAD’s recognition that Charter may continue to make truthful and accurate claims regarding the availability and benefits of Mobile Speed Boost, and that Charter’s Speed Boost claim in this case does not need additional disclosures.”
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.
Contact:
Jennie Rosenberg
Media Relations
BBB National Programs
press@bbbnp.org
National Advertising Division Recommends Comcast Discontinue or Modify “10G” Claims; Finds Xfinity “Next Generation” Claim Supported
New York, NY – October 12, 2023 – In a challenge brought by T-Mobile US, Inc., the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs determined that Comcast Cable Communications, LLC provided a reasonable basis for its “Next Generation” claim for its “Xfinity 10G Network,” as well as the implied claim that it has already achieved a major technological revolution.
However, NAD recommended that Comcast:
- Discontinue its “10G” claims or qualify them to (a) make clear that Comcast is implementing improvements that will enable it to achieve “10G” and that 10G is aspirational, or (b) use “10G” in a manner that is not false or misleading, and
- Modify its advertising to avoid conveying the unqualified message that Xfinity customers’ home internet is uninterrupted during power outages.
In February 2023, Comcast rebranded its fixed internet network as “Xfinity 10G Network” to signify technological upgrades to its network that are continuing to be implemented. T-Mobile challenged the name “Xfinity 10G Network” and the claim “10G,” which appeared in a myriad of advertisements on television and online.
“10G Claims”
NAD concluded that “10G” as used in the name “Xfinity 10G Network” and “Xfinity 10G” is an express claim that means 10 Gbps or 10th Generation.
In evaluating support for this claim, NAD found that Comcast’s description of its entire network as “10G” conveys the message that all consumers on the network will receive a significant increase in speed up to 10 Gbps speeds. However, only one of Xfinity’s many plans (Gigabit Pro) can reach 10 Gbps, and to access that service tier requires the installation of fiber to the premises. Further, NAD determined that the evidence in the record was insufficient to support the broad, unqualified message that the “Xfinity 10G Network” is vastly superior to 5G.
For these reasons, NAD concluded that Comcast did not provide a reasonable basis for its 10G claims and recommended that Comcast discontinue the claims:
- “10G”
- “Xfinity 10G”
- “Xfinity 10G Network”
Alternatively, NAD stated that Comcast may modify its advertising to (a) make clear that it is implementing improvements that will enable it to achieve “10G” and that it is aspirational or (b) use “10G” in a manner that is not false or misleading, consistent with this decision. NAD noted that nothing in its decision would prevent Comcast from making a more qualified claim, if supported, about the superiority of its network over 5G.
“Next Generation” and Technological Revolution Claims
Based on upgrades to Comcast’s network reliability, lower latency, and other features, NAD determined that Comcast provided a reasonable basis for its “Next Generation” claim and implied claims that it already achieved a major technological revolution.
Power Outage Implied Claim
T-Mobile argued that Comcast’s “What a Time to Be Alive” commercials convey the message that Xfinity customers’ home internet is uninterrupted during power outages, but the claim is premature because the Xfinity website stated that “storm-ready” WiFi is “coming soon.”
As the record did not include details on the effectiveness of this monitoring technology in ensuring that customers can still stream a movie uninterrupted when power runs out, NAD found that Comcast did not provide a reasonable basis for this claim. Therefore, NAD recommended that Comcast modify its advertising to avoid conveying the unqualified message that Xfinity customers’ home internet is uninterrupted during power outages.
In its advertiser statement, Comcast stated that it will appeal NAD’s decision because it “disagrees with NAD’s decision, including NAD’s determination that the “Xfinity 10G Network” brand name constitutes an ‘express claim’” and NAD’s assessment of survey evidence submitted by T-Mobile.
T-Mobile will cross-appeal NAD’s determination regarding Comcast’s “Next Generation” and technological revolution claims.
Appeals of NAD decisions are made to the BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Review Board (NARB), the appellate-level truth-in-advertising body of BBB National Programs.
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.
Contact Information
Name: Jennie Rosenberg
Email: jrosenberg@bbbnp.org
Job Title: Media Relations