ASCI bans 110 ads

ASCI bans 110 ads, including Amazon, HUL, Dr Batra's, L'Oreal, Godrej Consumer, Marico, Wipro, Thomas Cook, Delhi Metro in June
MONEYLIFE DIGITAL TEAM | 23/09/2014 04:18 PM





Health and personal care category continue to lead with the highest number of complaints received by ASCI during June 2014



The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) under the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has banned as many as 110 advertisements out of 127 complaints it received across segments during June 2014. The banned ads are from prominent companies like Hindustan Unilever (HUL)'s Ponds Dream Flower, Emami Damage Control Hair Oil, L'Oreal's Garnier Colour Naturals, Godrej Expert Rich Crème Hair Color, Dr Batra’s Homeopathy Clinic, Marico Ltd's Saffola Gold Oil, Wipro Ltd's Glucovita, ORG Water Purifier, Thomas Cook India, Delhi Metro Rail Corp and Amazon Seller Services Pvt Ltd, Lux Industries Ltd's ONN Premium Inner featuring Shah Rukh Khan; they range from FMCGs to autos, personal accessories to alcohol, and education to media.



“...the CCC upheld complaints against 110 out of 127 advertisements. Out of 110 advertisements against which complaints were upheld, 55 belonged to Personal and Healthcare category, followed by the Education category with 42 advertisements,” ASCI said in a release.



Here are the ads that were banned by ASCI during June 2014…

HEALTH AND PERSONAL CARE

The CCC found the following claims in health and personal care product or service ads of 55 advertisers, released in the print media / TVC to be either misleading or false or not adequately / scientifically substantiated and hence violating ASCI’s Code. Some of the health care products or services ads also contravened provisions of the Drug & Magic Remedies Act. Complaints against the following ads were UPHELD.


1. Hindustan Unilever Ltd (Ponds Dream Flower): The advertisement of Ponds Dream Flower shows a man riding pillion without a helmet. Riding or pillion riding a two wheeler without a helmet is a punishable offence and it promotes unsafe practices.

2. Delhi IVF and Fertility Research Centre: The advertisement claims to be a leading IVF Centre of North India. Successful treatment in case of infertility The tag line ‘Feel the joy of having your own child, age no bar’ read in conjunction with the claim of ‘dedicated Centre for infertility treatment’ implied cure from sterility in women, which is in breach of the law as it violates The Drugs and Magic Remedies Act.

3. Ban Labs Ltd (Dr Care Body Food): The advertisement of Dr Care Body Food claims, based on scientific research and found to be effective during clinical research, “increases immunity and life longevity”. “It provides more improvement than multi vitamins such as physical and mental power. Also improves skin and metabolism.” These claims were not substantiated with clinical evidence and proof of efficacy of the product. The advertiser suggests that consumers to stop using Chyawanprash for 4 months and start using Body Food for 12 months., This claim was not substantiated with comparative data with Chyawanprash for its all season efficacy.


4. Emami Ltd (Emami Damage Control Hair Oil): The advertisement claims that Emami Damage Control Hair Oil is world’s first hair oil that provides damage control was not substantiated and was misleading by omission. The claim “that only the 7 oils in this replenishes proteins and vitamins and repairs damage” was not substantiated with objective experimental data on hair strands.

5. Star Ayurveda (Star Homeopathy): The advertisement of Star Homeopathy claims that it is World's No. 1 Integrated Super Speciality Clinic. The clinic also claims of solving health problems such as Kidney, Infertility, Diabetes and Sex. These claims are violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act.

6. Ayurvedik Vikas Sansthan–(Anant Shakti Capsule): The advertisement of Anant Shakti Capsule claims that it gives complete passion, liveliness and helps in enhancing sexual pleasure. The Advertisement is in Breach of the law as it violated The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act and contravened Chapters I.1 and III.4 of the ASCI Code

7. Positive Life Sciences Pvt Ltd.: The advertisement of Positive Life Sciences Pvt Ltd claims that it is No.1 in the World Classical Homeopathy as they have successfully treated 96 patients. Treatment of infertility and diabetes at ‘Positive Infertility and Diabetic Cell’. 100% No side effect. These claims by Positive Life Sciences were not substantiated. Also, specific claims such as infertility or diabetes treatment violate The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act. The advertisement contravened Chapters I.1 and III.4 of the ASCI Code.

8. Nukind Healthcare – (Nukind Nuface Cream): The advertisement of Nukind Nuface Cream claims to remove the dark spots of acne, pimples and dark circles in seven days. The visual transition of the skin colour in the advertisement was considered to be misleading by exaggeration. The advertisement contravened Chapters I.1 and I.4 of the ASCI Code.

9. Cheers Pain Management Hospital: Their advertisement claims “Pain treatment with just one injection” without any operation and anesthesia, cures pain caused by cancer/ the pain of waist/ neck/ knee /sciatica and numbness of hands and leg/ frozen shoulder/ trigeminal neuralgia can be cured with just a needle, were not substantiated and were misleading by ambiguity as there were several other interventions.

10. Sanskruti Holistic Center: The internet advertisement of Past Life Regression therapy claims that it can cure problems related to obesity, allergies, headaches, arthritis, diabetes, hyperactivity, suicidal tendencies, fears, phobias, addictions, child abuse, recurrent fever, depression, back pain/ body pain, schizophrenia. The above claims in advertisement by Sanskruti Holistic Center were not substantiated with clinical evidence.

11. L'Oreal India P Ltd. (Garnier Colour Naturals): The advertisement of Garnier Colour Naturals claims that it can provide hair nourishment for 8 weeks. Garnier Colour Naturals has olive oil cream based formula which nourishes hair for 8 weeks. The claim was inadequately substantiated. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the Code.

12. Vibes Healthcare Ltd: The advertisement of Vibes Healthcare Ltd claims that it can help you lose 2 - 3 inches from tummy, hips and thighs and up to 5kg weight, Lipo Laser in 14 days. The claim by Vibes Healthcare Ltd was not substantiated with clinical evidence. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the Code.

13. Positive Homeopathy: The website advertisement claims that Positive Homeopathy can cure chronic diseases that are not curable. The claims appear to be misleading.

14. Dr Patel's Anti-Aging Clinic– (Dr Patel’s Diabetes Kit): The advertisement of Dr Patel’s Diabetes Kit claims that it is the only medicine which completely relieves one from diabetes without any side effects. It has been used by thousands of people in America after 15 years of research. The advertisement is in breach of the law as it violated The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act. The advertisement contravened Chapters I.1 and III.4 of the Code.

15. Jammu Hospital: The advertisement claims to give freedom from obesity and sugar with 100% success rate. The advertisement is in Breach of the law as it violated The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act and contravened Chapters I.1 and III.4 of the Code.

16. KDK Vardaan–(TulsiVardaan): The advertisement of TulsiVardaan claims that the product is very beneficial for resistance power, heart diseases, skin diseases and cancer. It contravened Chapter I.1 of the ASCI Code.

17. Pooja Health Centre: The advertisement of the centre claims to reduce 5 to 7 kilos of weight in 28 days and 7 to 10 inches from hips and stomach.

18. Taneja Hospital: The advertisement claims that the hospital is successful in treating more than one lakh deaf people is in Breach of the law as it violated The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act.

19. Raj Hospital Test Tube Baby Centre: The advertisement of the centre claims of successfully treating the problem of infertility among couples is in Breach of the law as it violated The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act and contravened Chapters I.1 and III.4 of the ASCI Code.

20. KundanAyurvedicCentre–(KundanKidney Care Centre): The advertisement of the centre claims to be “No.1 Kidney Centre in alternative treatment. Say goodbye to dialysis.” were not substantiated.

21. Sunshine Pharmaceuticals – (SobarGynofe Syrup): The advertisement of SobarGynofe Syrup claims to provide complete solution for all women related problems such as irregularity of periods, leucorrhoea, waist pain, imbalance of hormones and problems during pregnancy and boosts energy and enthusiasm. These claims were not substantiated.

22. Mata Tirathdevi Ayurvedic Hospital: The advertisement of Mata Tirathdevi Ayurvedic Hospital claims to provide effective Ayurvedic treatment for Cancer, Aids, Hepatitis and anal diseases.

The effect of these medicines can be seen within one month and they also have medicines for the diseases like heart diseases, high and low blood pressure, bones, nerves, joints, arthritis - baay, sciatica, palsy - paralysis, chronic headache, migraine, eye diseases, all skin diseases, STDs of males - females, premature ejaculation, impotency, childlessness, bone fever, malaria, asthma, snofilia and obesity. The hospital also claims to give complete cure of piles without an injection and operation. The Advertisement is in Breach of the law as it violated The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act and contravened Chapters I.1 and III.4 of the ASCI Code.

23. Saint Life Care Private Ltd – (24 Carat Tulsi): The advertisement of 24 Carat Tulsi claims to reduce harmful effects of urea in fruits and vegetables. It is an anti-oxidant which is beneficial in chemotherapy. It is also beneficial for diabetic patients as tulsi increases insulin level, these claims were not substantiated.

24. Dr Paul's Multispecialty Clinic Private Ltd - The advertisement of Dr. Paul's Multispecialty Clinic claims to be No.1 clinic for hair, skin and cosmetic surgery of Eastern India. Dr. Paul claims to be ‘The Pioneer in Meso treatment’ was not substantiated by comparative data versus other clinics.

25. Sumaya Herbs (Madhumeha Vijay Capsules): The advertisement of Madhumeha Vijay Vati claims in producing sugar in complete quantity and helps in getting rid of diabetes. The advertisement is in Breach of the law as it violated The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act. The advertisement contravened Chapters I.1 and III.4 of the ASCI Code.

26. Dr Rekha's Skin and Slim Centre: The advertisement claims that the centre provides treatments that help you reduce 5 to 7 kgs in one month thereby giving a 100% success. The visual showing “the before and after effect” of treatment was considered to be misleading.

27. Herbal Life Nectar: The advertisement of Herbal Life Nectar claims that the product makes body energetic and fit. It further helps in improving physical and mental strength. The advertisement also states that Herbal life Nectar is a multi-beneficial product which provides nutrition to each part of body, improves digestion, increases sexual vigour, develops brain of a child, helps to overcome depression and irritation, detoxifies body naturally, improves immune system and gives extra glow to skin. Doctors are also shown to endorse the product and advise viewers to take the supplement in place of medicine. The product also helps in coping with depression and in endowing an attractive body. The Ad contravened Chapter I.1 of the ASCI Code as well as Advertising Code – 7 [5] under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994.

28. Kerala Ayurvedic Healthcare: The advertisement of the centre claims to have developed special herbal oil for treatment of psoriasis. It even says that treatment is a better option than cure for the disease. Claims made in the advertisement were not substantiated with clinical data and proof of efficacy of the product.

29. Gulati Physiotherapy and Pain Relief Centre: The advertisement of the centre claims get rid of pain and disease within 5 minutes was not substantiated and was considered to be misleading by exaggeration.

30. Nigam Clinic: The advertisement of the clinic claims to dissolve and remove all kinds of stones from the body. Completely ayurvedic and safe medicine, no need for operation. The claims made in the Ad were not substantiated.

31. Hair Protection Hair Oil: The advertisement claims that the oil stops hair fall and early greying were not substantiated.

32. Piles Vijay Amrit: The advertisement of the product claims to provide a 100% permanent solution for piles. It also claims that the product helps in controlling bleeding and pain thereby giving permanent relief from piles. 100% ayurvedic medicine that gives guaranteed results the advertisement is in Breach of the law as it violated The Drugs & Cosmetics Rule 106.

33. Teleone Consumer Products P Ltd. (No Piles): The advertisement of the product claims that their product gives a permanent solution/cure for piles. The product is a 100 percent herbal medicine that gives guaranteed results. “No Piles means No Piles” was not substantiated.

34. Teleone Consumer Products P. Ltd. (Diaba Amrit): The advertisement claims that Diaba Amrit effectively treats diabetes without giving any side effects. The product says that it is completely capable in maintaining the sugar level and prevents diabetes in minimum time period. The claim “Diaba Amrit controls diabetes” was not substantiated.

35. Sky Brand India (Slim X Pro): The advertisement of the product claims that it can effectively reduce weight with their herbal product. The product does not only reduce body plumpness but also adds extra glow to the face and provides better digestion. It says that the product is 100 percent ayurvedic product, which not only only reduces fat, but also helps in maintaining the fitness of body without any diet and exercise. The Ad contravened Chapters I.1 and I.5 of the ASCI Code as well as Advertising Code – 7 [5] under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994.

36. Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (Godrej Expert Rich Crème Hair Color): The advertisement of the product claims to be a ‘Best Ever Hair Color’ as it does not have ammonia. This claim is misleading by implication and omission that it is the best product and other products in the market have ammonia. Also, the TVC claim incorrectly imply that other products have ammonia and thus it disparages competitive products. The TVC contravened Chapters I.4 and IV.1 (e) of the Code.

37. Shree Dhanwantri Herbals (D- Fit Capsule): The advertisement of D-Fit capsule claims that it consists of Swarna, Basantkusumakarras, Shilajit, Gudmaar and Vijaysar. Out of which Gurmar and Vijaysar, helps in reducing the sugar level in the body. Claims in the Ad were not substantiated.

38. Zenvista Meditech Private Ltd – (V-Secret Gel): The advertisement of the gel claims that it revives the shape and tightness of the vagina which is often affected after motherhood and ageing. One can see results within 2 weeks of using the gel. The advertiser also claims that it is a Certified Ayurvedic Medicinal Cream. The visual showing the after effect of the treatment was misleading.

39. Jindal Healthcare - Thrill Power: The advertisement of Thrill Power claims to be an effective medicine for enhancing sexual powers, especially in men. The advertisement claims that the product is capable of maintaining healthy sexual arousal in men. The advertorial describes Thrill Power as an ‘ultimate supplement’, which is beneficial for men suffering from erectile dysfunction. It says the product is an ‘ayurvedic formula’ for natural sexual enhancement. The advertisement is in Breach of the law as it violated The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act.

40. Anti Addiction: The advertisement Anti Addiction claims that it is an effective medicine for treating addictions such as drugs, cigarette, and alcohol and tobacco. The advertiser further claims that Anti Addiction is a 100 percent ayurvedic medicine with no side effects and various health benefits. The product not only helps its user in becoming free from any type of addiction, but also helps in removing all toxins from the body thereby bringing positive changes in one’s life. The Ad contravened Chapter I.1 of the ASCI Code as well as Advertising Code – 7 [5] under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994.

41. Tele 24 Hour (Figaslim): The advertisement of Figaslim claims to be an effective method of reducing weight. This product is 100 percent ayurvedic, which not only reduces fat, but also helps in maintaining body weight. The advertisement also claims that Figaslim is 100 percent more effective than the cardio weight machine, belts and 2000 percent safer than the weight of reduction surgeries. It further claims that the product helps in losing weight by improving the body’s metabolic rate, were not substantiated.

42. Japani Oil: The advertisement of the oil claims that it enhances sexual performance among men. The oil is 100 per cent herbal which is exclusively meant for sexual pleasure for men violated The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act.


43. Dr. Batra’s Homeopathy Clinic: The advertisement of the clinic claims of treating 45000 allergy patients with a success rate of 94 percent. Advanced scientific tools to detect the cause of allergy in 30 minutes and the diagnostic technology helps in giving accurate and reliable results, without the assistance of a laboratory. Authenticated by American Quality Assessors they give holistic 360 degree approach for treating allergic patients. Claims made in the Ad were not substantiated.

44. Shree Maruti Herbal – (Marutis D-Diabetes Powder): The advertisement of Marutis D-Diabetes Powder claims that it improves the process of utilizing glucose (Blood Sugar Management) and helps in increasing the flow of hormones. Patients consuming D-Diabetes Smart Powder are living a tension free healthy life. Claims in the Ad were not substantiated with adequate scientific and clinical data.


45. NirmalAyur Life Private Ltd (NirmalObamin Plus): The advertisement claims that it helps one lose weight up to 15kg without any side effects. It neither requires strict diet nor exercise, were not substantiated.


46. Dr Gupta Stone and Uterine Fibroid Clinic: The advertisement of the clinic claims they have been successful in treating stone and uterus problems without any operation and without any pain. They also claim to have successfully treated kidney stones, bladder stones, gall stones, hair loss, ovary tumour, baldness, dandruff and premature greying of hair.

47. RupamUbtan: The advertisement of the product claims that it provides permanent fairness was not substantiated.

48. Unani Medicine–(Mughal-E-Azam Cream): The advertisement of the cream claims to provide a new treatment for smallness, impotency, and premature ejaculation. It also claims that within 10 days the penis will become thick and longer by 1 to 2 inches. The Ad was in Breach of the law as it violated The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act.

49. Shree Dhanvantari Pharmacy – (SundariSudha): The advertisement of SundariSudha claims that the syrup comprises highly condensed mixture of herbs which are not present in any other syrup available in the market. The medicine also helps in getting rid of frequent miscarriages and avoids the problem of infertility. So, those girls who have attained the age of 14 will not have to face the problems due to hormonal changes. The advertisement violated The Drugs & Magic Remedies Act.

50. Enhance Aesthetic and Cosmetic Studio: The advertisement of the studio claims to cure Alopecia. They claim to provide hair related services by using stem cell therapy but visuals imply curing of baldness. The advertisement contravened Chapters I.1, I.4 and III.4 of the Code.

51. Jagat Pharma – (Isotine Eye Drops): The advertisement of the drops claim that they successfully treat cataract, near vision, kala pani, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinitis piramentosa, colour blindness etc.

52. Minerals For All (Anderson’s Concentrated Mineral Drops): The advertisement claims to cure major diseases like arthritis, cancer and diabetes by using Concentrated Mineral Drops. It also claims to be a single remedy for all health related issues thereby giving a complete solution for ‘Healthy Glowing Skin’. (Read: Minerals For All, another MLM, offering single remedy for all diseases!


53. Yogi Herboclub (Slim Trim): The website advertisement of Slim Trim claims that it helps reduce excess fat and weight. It is a 100 percent natural herbal diet. The key ingredients in the product interact with the body's natural process of metabolism; prevent fat formation, cut fat in human body and keep the body slim-trim.

54. Direct Hair Implantation: The advertisement claims to give guaranteed results in hair implantation with no strips, scars or stitches, pain or discomfort. Giving superior hairline design and maximum density in one session, were not substantiated.

55. Shathayu Ayurveda: The advertisement of the product claims that it removes used hormones from the body by giving ayurveda treatment of ancient detoxification process that enables the growth of new hormones by the liver was not substantiated.

EDUCATION:

The CCC found following claims in print advertisements by 42 different advertisers were not substantiated and thus, violated ASCI Guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions and hence the complaints against these ads were UPHELD –

Accurate Academy: The advertisement of the academy claims that it gives 100 percent guarantees of passing otherwise they would refund the fees.

Mangalayatan University: The advertisement of the university claims to be ranked No.7 in northern India according to Chronicle B-School Survey 2014.

Popular Academy: The advertisement’s claims of 100 percent success assurance in IBPS/SBI /Co-Operative Bank, Bank Exams and PSC Coaching.

The Sagar School: The advertisement claims to receive International School Award in 2010 – 2013.

Krupanidhi College: The advertisement claims to be Asia's fastest growing private education institute by WCRC - Leaders - Asia Education as evaluated by KPMG.

Varun Study Centre: The advertisement of the centre claims that it is India's No.1 GK faculty under guidance of Appalanaidu Sir.

IMS Educational Society – (IMS-Noida): The advertisement claims to be ranked Top 22 B-school in North Region by The Week Magazine. Mail Today has ranked it as Top 11th Best B-School of Delhi NCR. It is also ranked as one of the Top 10 Best B-School for placement pan India by Business and Management Chronicle Magazine. It also claims to give 100% job placement.

Sharda Group of Institutions – Sharda University: The advertisement of the university makes claims of being awarded the rating of the best private university for four consecutive years.

Backspace Communications: The advertisement of the institute claims that it is a superior institute when compared with other institutes. This appears to be detrimental and defames other educational institutions of repute.

CL Educate Ltd.: The advertisement claims selection of 1003 out of 1637 in CLAT 2013 which was not substantiated.

Triveni Academy: The advertisement of Triveni Academy claims of 97.0% residential result in the CHSE Result 2014.

Vikash Group of Institutions: The advertisement of Vikash Group Of Institutions claims a 100% success with exceptional percentile in CBSE and CHSE +2.

ODM School of Human Excellence: The advertisement of ODM School of Human Excellence claims to give ‘100% Residential Result’.

Vedbyash Residential College: The advertisement of Vedbyash Residential College claims to give 100% success with real education.

Resonance Eduventures Pvt. Ltd.: The advertisement claims to have highest number of students qualified when compared with any Institute in India.

C V Raman School for IIT-JEE: The advertisement claims “Assured Success In +2 Board Exam & Engg/ Medi Entrance Exam”.

Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI): The advertisement claims that FDDI is ranked A+++ category. It claims that the institute is amongst the Top 10 Colleges in terms of infrastructure and placement. Further it says that it has 100% placement with leading corporates in India and abroad.

Indo Global Colleges: The advertisement claims the college is ranked No.3 in placements amongst all colleges in Punjab (PTU 2011) Official Ranking of PTU – Jalandhar.

KristuJayanti College: The advertisement claims that KristuJayanti College is one of the top colleges of India when surveyed by India Today in 2010, 11, 12 and 13. It further claims that it is ranked No.1 Best Emerging Commerce College in India, ranked No.32 among Best Arts College in India and ranked No.1 as Best Emerging Science College in India. In addition, the advertisement also claims to be ranked No.4 and No.9 College for Arts and Commerce streams respectively in Bangalore.

Complaints against advertisements of all educational institutes listed below were UPHELD because of unsubstantiated claims that they ‘provide 100% placement/AND/OR they claim to be the no.1 in their respective fields’:

KishorTripathis Classes, NIBMS Career Coaching Centre, PSNA College of Engineering and Technology, Adesh Institute of Technology’s Job Mania, Heritage Institute Hotel and Tourism, ARC Computer Education, American Institute of English Language, Mohandas College of Engineering and Technology, Ratnashila Institute of Paramedical Science, Meenakshi Group of Institute, Vikas Academy, Kollywood Academy, SRM University from the SRM Group of Institutes, National Academy of Event Management and Development, Gandhi Engineering College, Alpha College of Engineering and Technology, Aptech Ltd’s Arena Animation Academy, College of Fire Engineering and Safety Management, Jagannath Gupta Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jain University, Malabar College of Engineering and Technology, RIG Institute of Hospitality and Management, Gyan Ganga Group of Institutions’s Gyan Ganga Institute of Technology and Management, Shree KarniSewaSamiti Trust’s Shree Karni College.

FOOD and BEVERAGES:

The CCC concluded that the claims mentioned in these three advertisements were not substantiated. The advertisements contravened ASCI’s Code. The complaints were UPHELD.

1. Marico Ltd (Saffola Gold Oil): The advertisement of Saffola Gold Oil claims that it is not just an oil but has a scientific solution for every heart. Saffola Gold Oil sets a benchmark not with other oils but with the best advancements in heart care. Comparative data were misleading by implication.

2. Wipro Ltd. - Glucovita: The advertisement shows a small boy in his school uniform sitting on a park bench and teasing a dog who is tied to another bench. The dog unleashes itself from the bench and runs after the boy who flips a tablet of Glucovita into the air and catches it with his mouth and runs faster and leaves the dog far behind. This suggests a dangerous act. The CCC concluded that the visual of “a boy flipping the Glucovita Bolts in the air and catching it in his mouth”, shows a dangerous act which is likely to encourage minors to emulate such act in a manner which could cause harm or injury. The advertisement contravened Chapter III.2 (b) of the Code.


3. Mahashian Di Hatti Ltd (MDH Masale): The advertisement of MDH Masale shows two males riding motorbikes without helmet. The CCC viewed the TVC and concluded that the visual of “two males riding motorbikes without helmet” promotes unsafe practices. The advertisement contravened Chapter III.3 of the ASCI Code. The complaint was UPHELD.


CONSUMER DURABLES:

1. ORG Engitech Pvt Ltd (ORG Water Purifier): The advertisement of ORG Water Purifier claims that the presence of RO + UV + AAA + pH + ORP and healthy minerals helps in cleaning the acid waste of the body. The mineral content in water gives 3 times more hydration and provides resistance against acidosis diseases. The ORG purifier also helps in improving digestion and the taste of water. The CCC viewed the print advertisement and considered the advertiser’s response. The CCC concluded that the claims in the advertisement were not substantiated with proof of efficacy. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the Code. The complaint was UPHELD.


TELESHOPPING:

1. Tele Trade Shopping Sky Shop (SidhMaha Lakshmi Yantra): The advertisement claims of getting better finances and assets. YOU MEAN BETTER RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS? According to the Advertising Code – 7 [5], no advertising shall contain references which are likely to lead the public to infer that the product advertised or any of its ingredients has some special or miraculous or super-natural property or quality, which is difficult of being proved.. The CCC reviewed the relevant parts of the TVC. In the absence of comments from the advertiser, the CCC concluded that the claim, ‘SidhMaha Lakshmi Yantra is for attaining better finances and assets’, was not substantiated. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the ASCI Code as well as Advertising Code – 7 [5] under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994. The complaint was UPHELD


FINANCE:

1. Investor Clinic: In the full page advertisement Investors Clinic offered SupertechRomano 2/3/4/ BHK premium flat located at Sector 118, Noida at Rs35 Lacs under 40%-60% payment plan whereas earlier price was Rs44 Lacs which was struck out by the advertiser. The complainant called at the mentioned number to find out that Rs35 Lacs price is for down payment plan and not 40-60% payment plan which is not in line with the advertisement. Second, Investors clinic informed the complainant about other charges of Rs7.5 Lacs which are not mentioned in the advertisement. In the absence of comments from the advertiser, the CCC concluded that the advertisement distorts facts and the claim, ‘Our price Rs. 35 Lacs, Pay 40% now and 60% on/near possession’, is misleading. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.4 of the Code. The complaint was UPHELD.


REAL ESTATE:

1. TVH Quadrant: The text of the advertisement reads as follows, ‘Pay 15% and watch your investment zoom up 130% ** in under 2 years’, ‘reliable industry estimates forecast that an investment of Rs65 lakh in a prime site in Adyar, will appreciate to Rs1.55 Cr in just 18 months. The complainant stated that by suggesting a 130% return, they wanted to sell flats at higher prices. The CCC viewed the print advertisement and considered the advertiser’s response. The CCC concluded that the claim, ‘Just pay 15% and watch your investment zoom up 130% ** in under 2 years’, was misleading, as one cannot assume or assure any future appreciation of real estate with certainty even if in the past the claimed appreciation rate has occurred. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.4 of the Code. The complaint was UPHELD.


TRAVEL:

1. Thomas Cook India Ltd: The advertisement of the travel company claimed to give special package to Philadelphia starting at Rs44,000 only. But when contacted for availing the offer, customers are given services for Dubai instead of Philadelphia on the advertised price. The CCC viewed the print advertisement and considered the advertiser’s response. The CCC concluded that the claim offer is misleading by ambiguity and omission of the fact that the airfare is not included. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.4 of the Code. The complaint was UPHELD.

FASHION AND LIFESTYLE:


1. Khazana Jewellers: The advertisement claims that Khazana Jewellers is the largest jewellery showroom of Vizianagaram. The CCC viewed the print advertisement and considered the advertiser’s response. The CCC concluded that there was no conclusive data provided by the advertiser to prove the claim, ‘Vizianagaram's largest jewellery showroom’. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the Code. The complaint was UPHELD.



2. Lux Industries Ltd (ONN Premium Inner): The advertisement shows Shah Rukh Khan riding a motorcycle without a helmet. Riding a two wheeler without a helmet is a punishable offense as per the central motor Vehicle Act section 129. Such commercials showing a celebrity like Shah Rukh Khan gives the wrong message to the masses. The CCC viewed the TVC and concluded that the visual of ‘Shah Rukh Khan riding a motorcycle without a helmet’, promotes an unsafe practice. The advertisement contravened Chapter III.3 of the ASCI Code. The complaint was UPHELD.

OTHERS:

1. ERD Infotech Pvt Ltd (ERD LED): The advertisement shows too many people on two wheelers without wearing helmets. As per Central Motor Vehicle Act, riding a two-wheeler without a helmet is a punishable offence. Such commercials promote unsafe practices. The CCC viewed the TVC and concluded that the visual of ‘people on two wheelers shown without helmets’ promotes unsafe practices.


The advertisement contravened Chapter III.3 of the ASCI Code. The complaint was UPHELD.


2. Delhi Metro Rail Corp Ltd: The advertisement claims that 95% of DMRC customers show courtesy to their fellow passengers, 95% of customers allow passengers to deboard first before entering into the train, 95% of our customers offer seats to senior citizens, women and other needy ones, more than 25,000 commuters purchase Smart Cards on a daily basis. It further claims that most of the tourists use Tourist Card of DMRC to visit tourist places in Delhi. In the absence of comments from the advertiser, the CCC concluded that the claims were not substantiated. The advertisement hoardings contravened Chapter I.1 of the Code. The complaint was UPHELD.


3. Amazon Seller Services Private Ltd: The advertisement claims to guarantees one day delivery.


The CCC viewed the TVC referred to by the complainant and considered the advertiser’s response. The CCC concluded that in the absence of a super/disclaimer, the TVC is misleading by omission. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.4 of the ASCI Code. The complaint was UPHELD.

Fed Up of Misleading & False Ads? Complain Online

Fed Up of Misleading & False Ads? Now, You Can Stop Them By Filing Complaint Online

Posted by: Mohul Ghosh 


Last year, Amitabh Bachchan created ripples across the advertisement world when he shared that he has stopped promoting Pepsi, because of a young girl: She asked him why is he helping to sell Pepsi when her school teacher has said that soft drinks are poison?

He said, “This impression is on the mind of the people… So I stopped endorsing Pepsi. I tell this to my son Abhishek and to daughter-in-law Aishwarya also… If you have to endorse a product then you have to conduct your life in such a manner that it does not affect others’ lives.”

In this rare case, the moral conscience of a senior actor stopped him from selling a product which is harmful for young children, and serves no purpose to them besides making them overweight and prone to diabetes at an early age.

But often celebrities and brands avoid this moral dilemma, and solely focus on creating an overhyped, sensational ‘image’ of a product so that it sells.

Right from underwear brands which promise extra ordinary powers to shampoos which claims to grow hair, beauty and confidence at the same time, there are myriad instances of overhyped, misleading advertisements, which shouldn’t have been aired.

In fact, The Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC) has observed thatcelebrities who are promoting such false and misleading advertisements areliable for legal action.

Early this month we had reported that Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has termed health and education ads to be most misleading & deceptive in nature, and cracked down on several of them.

Fairness Cream advertisements, which promise instant glory and fame due to a whitening of skin leads the pack of such immoral, and false commercial propaganda. Infact, ASCI had to issue special guidelines for such Fairness Cream ads, considering how celebrities, both male and female, openly endorse them.

Why Should You Complain Against Any Misleading Ad

Indian Government has constituted Consumer Protection Acts, and Government departments to deal with such misleading and false advertisements, and all consumers are encouraged to use them.

Even if there is no monetary or health loss involved in such ads, there can be severe emotional and mental trauma associated with the portrayal of the ‘victim’. Take for instance Fairness Ads, where the visuals are created so as to impart an impression that girls who are not fair don’t get good jobs, husbands or a life.

There are health products which claim to make children taller, hence more successful. Imagine the mental trauma a child encounters when he is teased for being short, a situation which solely arises due to such advertisements.

Or for instance advertisements where a guy is magically able to attract beautiful girls after spraying deodorant on his body; these ads actually attack the evil social mentality and prejudices and exploit them to monetize it heavily.
How Can You Complain?



Consumer Protection Act, 1986 is an Act which has been made to help consumers deal with such false propaganda, solely designed to exploit human emotions and prejudices.

Consumers can file their complaints by visiting the specific District level consumer courts, and in case their case is not being heard, they can approach State leveland National level consumers courts as well.

Here is the National Consumer Helpline Number: 1800-11-4000, which governs all these bodies, under Department of Consumer Affairs.

Consumers can also visit ASCI, which is a self-regulatory body which takes up such cases of false and misleading advertisements. You can file a complaint right here.

Don’t let brands fool you by playing with your fears and emotions – fight back!

Tax-free bonds

Bond Street Action: 

Dalal Street in dumps, you can bet on tax-free bonds
By Saikat Das, ET Bureau | 8 Sep, 2015, 10.16AM IST

MUMBAI: For the faint-hearted retail investors shaken by the turmoil in the equity markets, there is something to cheer about.

More than Rs 10,000 crore of taxfree bonds from state-run companies such as NTPC, Power Finance Corp. (PFC), Indian Railways Finance (IRFC), Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), Rural Electrification (REC) and Housing and Urban Development Corp. (Hudco) are set to hit the market in the next one or two months, three people familiar with the matter told ET.

On an average, investors can earn as much as 7.39-7.67% in post-tax interest from these bonds with 10, 15 and 20-year maturities, going by the benchmark yield reported two weeks ago.

The benchmark, 30-share BSE Sensex declined 1.22% to 24,893.81 on Monday, extending the loss since August 7 to 12%. "It would be wise to raise funds via tax-free bonds now as many retail investors may not be looking at underperforming equities and want to lock in long-term debt products at attractive levels with tax efficiency," said Ajay Manglunia, head of fixed income at Edelweiss Securities. "The fad may fade away in the second half of the year with many PSU disinvestments being lined up, which will be attractive to retail."

Most of the companies seeking to raise from such bonds have appointed investment bankers. NTPC, Power Finance and Rural Electrification are looking to raise Rs 700 crore each. Indian Railways Finance and IREDA are likely to raise about Rs 4,200 crore and Rs 1,500 crore, respectively, and Hudco is aiming for Rs 3,500 crore.

"We are trying to tap the retail money as soon as possible, before the market gets crowded out. We would appoint arrangers in a week's time," said a senior official from one of the companies.

Issuers have already mopped up funds via private placements as the government has mandated such sales only to the extent of 30% of the allotted size.

"Retail investors, who are now sitting on surplus funds obtained from maturing high-yielding term deposits or fixed maturity plans, are willing to invest the same in tax-free bonds," said Rupesh Bhansali, head of distribution at GEPL Capital.

Banks are cutting interest rates, leading to lower returns from deposits, and the Reserve Bank of India is expected to reduce the benchmark rate to spur economic growth.

"Tax-free bonds are worth investing, especially when interest rates are likely to dip in the next two years," said Suresh Sadagopan, principal planner at Ladder 7 Financial, an advisory firm.

"Retired people can have steady annual income flow from it while others can invest surplus funds to have additional income." The central bank has cumulatively decreased rates by 75 bps.

Yields have fallen to 7.75% from 8% about four months ago, pushing prices up. A rate cut expectation is also keeping the interest of investors alive.

50 Tips For Better Miles Per Gallon

Tori Tellem

Photographers: Courtsey of Advanced FlowBorlaJustice Brothers

Yeah, yeah. Gas costs a lot, the price of oil is atrecord highs...just like in the '70s. But it's not like you've responded by dumping your 4x4 to advertise hybrids to the neighborhood. Those guys are the weenies; it's much more macho to deal with the pain and torture of filling up dual tanks. Don't we know it-we certainly haven't responded to the high price tag by selling any of our gas-guzzling rigs for more economical junk. But we have decided to try and overcompensate in ways proven to improve fuel economy. Some are more challenging to do than others (walk somewhere?!), but all will keep extra pennies in your pocket. But do remember that the additional weight from the pennies will decrease fuel economy.

* Go ahead, buy that hybrid-we won't mock you. Much. A hybrid gets its ideal fuel economy in stop-and-go traffic, not the highway (because it shuts the engine off and runs on the battery at a stop). But if you start modifying a hybrid with beefy tires and so on to seem less dorky, it starts defeating the purpose of buying a hybrid: fuel economy. And it could void the warranty, depending on what you do.

* Go ahead, buy that econobox-we won't mock you. Actually, we will. But it might be cost-effective to use that as the daily driver and save your 4x4 for weekend excursions.
* Automatic versus manual transmission? Nowadays, automatics are becoming increasingly better than you are at shifting at the most opportune moment. In some new cars, the automatics are actually getting better mileage than the stick version. But manual trannies are still lighter in weight and commonly have more gear choices-plus rowing your own gears adds to performance satisfaction. For now, we'd still go manual for fun and to have the edge on fuel economy.
* The more torquey the engine, the easier it is for the truck to get up to speed without effort. When the engine doesn't have to work hard, you win. That's why a diesel can get better gas mileage than a gas engine-up to 30 percent.
* Don't have guilt about buying a Hemi. It now comes with the Multi-Displacement System (MDS), which shuts off cylinders when the power isn't needed (making it a four-banger!), then behaves like a V-8 when you need the extra get up and go.

* Don't increase your speed to get up a grade. You'll get better fuel economy by maintaining the speed. Do what it takes to climb a hill off road, but the thought remains the same.

* When an air filter gets dirty, less air is able to flow through it. That affects performance, because when there's more air, less fuel is needed for the ideal air/fuel ratio. Get one that's high flow, washable, and reusable (such as from Advanced Flow Engineering, www.afefilters.com). A clean filter can improve things by 10 percent.

* Roof racks, bicycle carriers, and other add-ons cause aerodynamic drag. These can suck up to 50 percent of engine power on the highway. And don't drive around with that kayak, canoe, or mountain bike longer than necessary.

* There's no escaping idling in traffic or at stoplights, but don't do it on the trail or in the morning to warm up your truck. More than 17 percent of energy is lost on this action. Not to mention you're getting 0 mpg.

* If you do need the A/C, heater, or defroster, set it on a low fan speed. If you have rear air and no one is sitting back there, then why is it on?

* While you're at it, stop using the seat heater.

* Accessories suck energy from the engine. That means air conditioning, lights, foglights, window wipers, and even power steering. Swap in a high-output alternator or power-steering pump and you could see a 1 percent improvement. Don't use the accessories if you don't need them.
* A continuously variable transmission doesn't hunt absentmindedly for gears like it sounds. In a way, it has unlimited gears, making it efficient technology, so consider that option if your new-vehicle choice has it.
* Replace the fuel filter if it's getting clogged. Less gas will be able to flow to the engine; you'll ride the accelerator more, and believe it or not, it'll still take more fuel to help the engine compensate.
* If you drive with your windows down at high speeds, it increases drag, which decreases fuel economy.
* A bad O2 sensor can reduce fuel economy a whopping 40 percent. In fact, if the Check Engine light comes on, don't ignore that.

* Less fuel is needed to accelerate if you're moving than if you're stopped. Therefore, there's no rush to get to that stoplight. Maybe it'll be green by the time you get there.

* Don't use thicker motor oil than what the manufacturer recommends because the engine has to exert more effort. Running the proper grade can boost mpg by up to 2 percent.
* Avoid traffic. Unlike a hybrid, stopping and going burns gas.
* Just because cheap gas makes your wallet happy, it might not make your truck happy. If the gas doesn't have the right amount of octane and some other big-word ingredients, detonation could result. Also, additives that prevent the bad deposits might be absent, which could clog the fuel injectors-which hurts fuel economy. If you fill up and your truck starts running crappy, don't buy gas from there again.
* Keep up with oil changes, because if your oil gets dirty, it gets thicker, and we already covered what happens with thick oil. And change the oil filter too. Routine maintenance (read: tune-ups, including checking tranny fluid) is important for mpg.

* Brake drag can contribute to poor fuel economy. Make sure the calipers are retracting all the way and that the drums are correctly adjusted.

* Carpool. Or telecommute. What boss could argue with working from home since it will save the planet and mean you don't need a raise to pay for gas?
* Pull off the carb and put in fuel injection. Fuel injection is more efficient and can get better fuel economy than a carb. The cost of doing this will take forever to make economic sense, so use it as an excuse to get fuel injection for better wheeling experiences.
* If the wheels/tires are out of alignment, more drag is created and it'll take extra energy to keep the truck going straight down the road. Plus, the tires will wear out sooner.
* Is your thermostat functioning the way it should? Cold engines gulp fuel.
* Why are you using premium gas? Unless you've done significant engine mods, 87 octane is fine.

* Towing will reduce your mileage numbers. There's more wind resistance, more weight, and more drag.

* Over- or under-gearing your truck will make the engine work outside of its peak efficiency range.

* Ensure that the spark plugs, plug wires, cap, points, and rotor are all clean, not cracked or worn out, and are set correctly. Dirty spark plugs can misfire; make sure you clean and gap them right. How's the ignition timing?

* Some people believe if they drive with the tailgate down, they'll get better fuel economy. No sense trying to convince them otherwise. But we've found no difference.
* Swapping out the stock engine-driven fan and fan shroud for an electric fan (such as one from Flex-a-lite, www.flex-a-lite.com) is designed to keep the engine cooler as well as get rid of the drag from the stock fan, which in turn can bump up the mileage.
* Adding Overdrive to the transmission will lower the engine rpm to help keep it in peak range. You can get a kit from Advance Adapters (www.advanceadapters.com), such as the Ranger Torque Splitter Two-Speed Overdrive for the manual trans, which adds a gear between each gear already in the transmission, essentially turning your four-speed into an eight-speed. It's one of the priciest fuel-economy fixes, but the Overdrive kit will also help with towing and offer more gear choices off road. Also, higher gears and lower speeds equals an engine turning slower. Less gas is needed to do that.

* Think swapping in a bigger engine is counterproductive to getting better fuel economy? If you've put larger tires and a lift kit on a rig that has a small engine, it might be working harder to maintain freeway speeds. But drop in a V-8, and it will probably improve your mileage because it's better matched to how you've outfitted the truck.

* Have an in-vehicle entertainment system Must be nice to be rich. Shut it off when no one is watching. It's a drain.
* Add a performance (calibration) chip that can reprogram your vehicle's computer, adjusting ignition timing and the air/fuel mix for performance that's suited to your driving style, whether a power programmer or control module. (Try BD Power, www.bdpower.com or JET, www.jetchip.com.) There should be an increase in both hp and gas mileage, among other benefits. Consider it if you tow.
* Keep the tires at the recommended air pressure. You can reduce fuel economy by 3.3 percent if you don't.
* An exhaust system or headers (such as from Borla, www.borla.com) can improve performance, because when air runs into resistance, it can build backpressure. You don't necessarily need the biggest tailpipe, though.

* Big tires equal more rolling resistance. Skinny tires create less friction on the pavement. Do you need a 44-inch tire on the street? More weight requires more effort to move, and lowers your fuel economy.

* vMake sure your speedometer is correctly calibrated, otherwise you have no idea about your true fuel economy.
* Airdams, spoilers, and tonneaus provide better airflow, less drag. The smoother the body of the vehicle, the better the mileage.
* If your wheeling is seasonal, consider taking off the big rubber for something more street friendly until you're ready to hit the trail again.

* Drive someone else's vehicle. Or if they figure out your master plan, maybe sign up for a co-op (check out www.zipcar.com); gas and insurance is paid for.

* Don't accelerate hard or gun it. That wastes fuel. * Use cruise control on most roads. It keeps the mph and internal activity steady.

* Lighten the load. Clear out the bed of spare parts and tools, and clean the interior (those McFood wrappers add up). For every 100 extra pounds you're hauling, that's 1-2 percent worse gas mileage you're getting.
* Make sure your camper or bedcap is level with the top of the cab. It's aerodynamics again.
* Burnt fuel leaves behind all sorts of garbage that can get stuck in the combustion chambers and valves. Using an additive (like Justice Brother's Fuel Injection System Cleaner, www.justicebrothers.com) can be poured into the tank to help remove carbon and other deposits. To slow the burn rate of combustion, there are also octane boosters.
* If you bolted in a larger axle, don't worry about any additional weight from that. Think more about the tire size and final gear ratio combo. Get technical support about choosing the right gearing if you're not sure (such as from Reider Racing, www.reiderracing.com).

* Four-wheel drive puts power (work) to all four corners instead of propelling your vehicle with just the rear two wheels. This means more drivetrain turning, and therefore more drag on your engine. It's not rocket science.

* Bought a new truck or stuffed in a new mill? Don't forget that there's a break-in period, so you may not see its top fuel economy until as many as 5,000 miles on a gas-fueled engine, and up to 20,000 miles for a diesel.
* Don't speed. Every 5 mph over 60 mph can cost up to $0.21 more per gallon.
* Aluminum wheels are lighter than steel wheels, and every pound of weight added decreases fuel economy.

From: http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/engine/131-0604-50-tips-better-mpg/#ixzz3kJhI44k2
Follow us: @fwmag on Twitter | fourwheelermag on Facebook

Filing a faulty tax return

You could be filing a faulty tax return; here's how to avoid getting it rejected

By Babar Zaidi, ET Bureau | 17 Aug, 2015, 10.21AM IST

He hasn't got money stashed away in foreign banks, doesn't buy benami properties and diligently files his tax return before the last date. Yet, Kiran Chandorkar could get a tax notice because he doesn't declare the interest from fixed deposits and tax saving infrastructure bonds in his return.

"The interest from FDs is tax-free because it is less than Rs 10,000 a year and the infrastructure bonds are tax saving instruments," explains the Bengaluru-based IT professional. Chandorkar is not alone. An online survey conducted by economictimes.com last week indicates an abysmal level of tax literacy. The tax returns of 66% of the 2,158 respondents could get rejected because of faulty information.

Almost 34% could even get a scrutiny notice because of grave errors in their tax forms. Like Chandorkar, almost 30% of the respondents believe that interest of up to Rs 10,000 from bank FDs is tax free in a year. They should know that the exemption under Section 80TTA is only for the interest on their savings bank accounts. What they earn on fixed deposits and recurring deposits is fully taxable.

Similarly, almost 30% believe that the interest earned on the tax-saving infrastructure bonds bought a few years ago under Section 80CCF is not taxable because they were tax saving instruments. Wrong again. The bonds may have helped them save tax, but the interest is fully taxable and has to be reported. Nearly 45% of the 637 respondents who said so earn over Rs 12 lakh a year and should be paying 30% on the income they think is tax free.

"These are very common misconceptions. Our research shows that nine out of 10 taxpayers go wrong in reporting their interest income," says Sudhir Kaushik, Co-founder and CFO of Taxspanner.com. There is also a misconception that there is no need to report the income if the bank has deducted TDS. But TDS is only 10%, and if your income puts you in the 20% or 30% tax bracket, you have to pay additional tax. Of course, if the income is below the basic exemption limit, the TDS will be refunded when the investor files his return.

To be sure, not reporting a small amount of interest income or claiming a deduction incorrectly rank very low in the hierarchy of tax offences. At most you will get a notice with an additional tax demand. There may even be a penalty under Section 271 (c) for concealment, but it depends on how the assessing officer views the transgression. "If the assessing officer is convinced that it was a genuine mistake and the taxpayer's intent was not to evade tax, he might not levy a penalty," says Divya Baweja, Partner with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells.

Fool's paradise

On the other hand, if the intention is clearly to conceal the income, the taxpayer can be in hot water. From this year, the tax forms have a separate column for declaration of property. If you have more than one property, you have to mention it in the return. If it has been rented out, the rental income will have to be declared in the return and tax paid on it. Even if the property is lying vacant, the owner has to pay tax on the notional rent from the property. This notional rent is the prevailing market rate in that location. "This rule about the tax on notional rent was always there. It is only that this year's tax forms have made it clear by providing a separate column for such property," says Vineet Agarwal, Partner in KPMG India.

If you don't declare the second property, it amounts to concealment of income and could attract a severe penalty. "Such a taxpayer will be seen as a wilful defaulter and could get slapped with a penalty," says Kaushik. Shockingly, nearly 20% of the survey respondents fall in this category. They believe that there is no tax implication of a house lying vacant. One out of three such taxpayers are in the highest 30% tax bracket.

Keep in mind that even if you are able to avoid mentioning the property in your tax return, it will ultimately get noticed by the taxman. TDS is now applicable on property transactions above Rs 50 lakh. If and when you sell the property and claim indexation benefit on long-term gains or seek a refund of the TDS, the tax department might want to know why the property was not declared in the tax return of the owner from the time it was purchased.
Declaration of foreign assets

This is one area where taxpayers need to really be very careful this year. Uncovering black money is high on the government's agenda, and any slippage on reporting of foreign assets immediately puts you in the dock. "The logic used by the tax department is that anyone with foreign assets has high income and should not be spared if he has concealed income," says Komal Agarwal, Partner in Mahesh K. Agarwal & Company. Thankfully, almost 89% of the respondents got this right.

But that still leaves around 11% of taxpayers who might falter when it comes to declaring their foreign assets. The department is keeping a close eye on the accounts and assets held outside India. The new ITR-2 requires you to give details of your foreign bank account's holding status (both as an owner and as a beneficiary), account opening date, interest accrued during the year and schedule and fields number under which the same income is reported.

Not only foreign bank accounts, but even domestic bank accounts need to be reported in the new forms. "A taxpayer has to report all his bank accounts in the return. If you miss any, it amounts to concealment of information," says Preeti Khurana, Chief Content Editor, ClearTax.in.

TDS gives you away

For many taxpayers, TDS is a four-letter word. More than 15% respondents said they would spread their investments across bank branches to avoid TDS. This might help them avoid TDS, but it's a ticking time bomb. Till now, TDS kicked in only if the income from FDs made in a particular bank branch exceeded the threshold of Rs 10,000 in a financial year.



But this year's budget has changed the rules and TDS will now apply if the combined income from FDs in all branches of a bank exceeds the threshold. Another significant change is that TDS will apply to recurring deposits if the interest during a financial year exceeds Rs 10,000. "The tax department is increasingly connecting the dots. An individual's financial life can no longer remain hidden," says Vikram Ramchand, Co-founder of makemyreturns.com.

TDS is a dead giveaway because it shows up in the taxpayer's Form 26AS. If the income and the TDS is mentioned in the Form 26AS but you haven't reported it in the tax return, the mismatch will be picked up by the computerised scrutiny system in the tax department and a notice will be issued. How lenient an assessing officer will be in such a case is anybody's guess.

Clubbing of income

Another way taxpayers are falling through the cracks is clubbing of income. Tax rules say that if you invest on behalf of your spouse or minor child, the income from the investment will be treated as yours. But more than 30% of the respondents believe that there is no tax implication if they invest in a recurring deposit in their wife's name or open a fixed deposit in the name of a minor child. This could prove to be a problem if the amount invested in the name of the spouse is significantly large and not commensurate with her known sources of income. Of the 668 respondents who believe this, more than 30% are in the highest tax bracket. Another 50% earn more than Rs 5 lakh a year, which puts them in the 20% tax bracket.

A small minority of taxpayers is also going wrong about whether they have to file their returns at all. But a significant 45% is mistaken whether they have to take the online route or not. 

Online filing is compulsory if your income is above Rs 5 lakh, you have foreign assets, or are claiming a refund. "Even if a physical return is accepted in the last-minute rush, it will ultimately get rejected," says Kaushik of Taxspanner.com

Missing out on deductions

Not all of the mistakes that taxpayers make raise the hackles of the taxman. Some also cost the taxpayer. 

More than 40% of the respondents did not know that along with the interest on a home loan for a self-occupied house, even the processing fees for the loan is also eligible for deduction under Section 24.

Another 15% was blissfully unaware that the fees paid for a preventive health checkup of the taxpayer and his family is eligible for deduction under Section 80D. 

A small but significant 7% were not aware that tuition fees of up to two children can be claimed as a deduction under Section 80C.

4 Basic SEO Principles to Increase Your Website Traffic

Top 4 Basic SEO Principles That Increase Your Website Traffic

Blogger conferences have been a great resource for me as an entrepreneur. In July, New York City was host to two huge blogger events, BlogHer and Blogger Bash, where more than 5,000 bloggers gathered to meet with brand representatives and attend sessions to hone their online skills.

Sheryl Simonitis, vice president of marketing at Noodle, a destination education website, shared a few SEO tips that any entrepreneur can use. The startup allows parents and students to make better education decisions in an environment that is completely unbiased so that a child and parent can find the best resources for their needs. Parents need to be able to find the company in an online search, so Noodle is well versed in SEO and are always producing with the consumer in mind. This is an idea every businessperson should follow.

Related: Be Sure to Balance SEO and User Experience in Your Web Page Design

I followed up with Simonitis after the conference to find out the basic SEO principles that make a difference and increase any business's website traffic.

1. Keywords

When you think about creating content, know the words that people are using to search. Every page should be built around keywords that are most important to you and your company. Do your homework. When you are producing pages for your website, use the best keywords on every post. 

Google helps you with your keywords. When you start to type into the search bar on Google, it gives you suggestions of popular words or phrases that people use in a search. If you want to take it one step further, you can use a tool called Google Keyword Planner that will tell you popular keywords. It will tell you true numbers of how many average monthly searches are occurring with those keywords.

2. Image tags

People have images all over their websites, and I am always surprised when bloggers don't identify the images. Google indexing sites need to understand what the image is and when it should be served up. You must tag your images. If there are none, Google does not know how to identify the image.

In WordPress, Yoast is a plugin that reminds you to label your images. With tags, Google will know what the image is, how to index it, where to store it and when to bring it up in a search.

3. Meta description

Right below your URL on the search page is a sentence that serves as the meta description. This is an important summary that tells people what they will learn on the page. You want it to be engaging and truthful and prompt people to click and learn more. Use call-to-action words such as "learn" and "visit" to engage people and encourage them to find out why the information on your page is important to them.

4. Backlinks

One of the things that is highly valued in SEO are backlinks. Backlinks are incoming hyperlinks from one webpage to another -- in other words, people linking to your website because they found value in what you're saying. In addition, you'll want to include hyperlinks to give your readers more useful information and to help build relationships with other bloggers.

Make sure that the links add value to your readers' lives. You can never have too many backlinks for an article. You will build high traffic that will help you rise up in the results.

These are tips you can implement with your next blog post to potentially increase your website's traffic and gain new followers or customers. Give them a try and see what they can do for your business

Top rated health plans to choose from

Mint Mediclaim Ratings look at about 60 mediclaim products to help you find the most suitable one

http://www.livemint.com/Money/TcUDgaFePLuqpGXCaOUQeL/Top-rated-health-plans-to-choose-from.html

Have you ever bought a nice shirt at a big discount, patted yourself on the back for getting a good deal and just two wears later had to discard it because the quality was poor? Many make the same mistake while buying health insurance. They buy on the basis of price alone. Yes, they do save some money in the process, and that is fine so long as they don’t end up in hospital. And should such a policyholder end up getting hospitalized, that is when she realizes the true value of her cover because what she has to pay the hospital is much more than what she had saved.

In order to reduce the prices, the insurer laces the policy with exclusions, limiting its liability. A policy that has many exclusions and caps may be cheap but won’t be effective. Hence, we recommend that you go beyond premiums—pay close attention to features of the policy, and then buy one that fits your budget. After all isn’t that what you do when buying a car? Why should health insurance be any different? Yes, it may be tougher because while you may know what to look for in a car, you may not in a health insurance plan.

To help you look at important features and compare, we bring to you Mint Mediclaim Ratings (MMR), developed by SecureNow Insurance Broker Pvt. Ltd. MMR rates health insurance policies on the basis of various parameters such as price, features, and claims record of the insurance company, that are important to consider when buying health insurance. But before you jump to the ratings, start with understanding the policies considered, the parameters we have taken and how we have rated them.

Health plans considered

There are broadly two kinds of health insurance policies: indemnity and defined benefit policies. A basic health insurance policy is an indemnity product that pays for your hospitalization. It covers hospitalization expenses, pre- and post-hospitalization expenses and listed daycare procedures. Defined benefit policies pay a stipulated sum on an insured event. For instance, a critical illness policy will pay the sum insured—the defined benefit—if you contract any of the insured critical illnesses, and the plan will then terminate. But a basic health insurance pays for your hospitalization up to the sum insured in a policy year and can be renewed for life.

MMR considers basic health policies because what you need the most is insurance to cover hospital bills. We have rated around 60 products for 23 non-life insurance companies, including stand-alone health insurers, and three life insurance companies that offer indemnity health products.

We have further divided health insurance into individual and family floater segments. A family floater considers the entire family as one unit. If one member makes a claim, the cover reduces by that much for all members in the policy year. This is why we recommend a higher cover on a floater, and accordingly we have rated plans for a sum insured of Rs.10 lakh and Rs.20 lakh for a family of four in two age categories: eldest member being 35 years and 45 years of age. For senior citizens who are 65 years old, we have considered a family of two.

For individuals, we have four age categories: 35, 45, 65 and 70 years. We have taken a sum insured of Rs.5 lakh for each. For the 70-year category, in the January 2015 edition of MMR, we had rated products with a sum insured of Rs.10 lakh. This time we have expanded to introduce another category—Rs.20 lakh.

Ratings drivers

For ratings we have broadly taken three essential categories, price, features and claims record, and have assigned weightage. With the price of a policy being an important factor, it continues to get a high weightage of 30%. Product features are sub-divided into six categories and together constitute 45% of the weightage, which means the basic features are more important to consider than premiums. Here the exclusion on pre-existing ailment figures on the top as it is one of the main reasons for claim rejection. While most insurers exclude pre-existing ailments for four years, a few limit it to two-three years. Exclusion gets a weightage of 15% and policies with a lower waiting period score higher. Sub-limits on room rent is the second most important feature as the policy doesn’t just cap the expenses on room rent but also other associated medical costs. If you opt for a higher category room, you will pay not just the difference in rent but other incidentals as well. It gets a weightage of 8%, and a policy with no sub-limits gets full marks.

Other features get a weightage of 5.5% each. Initial waiting period on specified ailments such as cataract and hernia, where procedures can be planned, are standard but there are some policies that waive off the wait. These get full marks. Even after the waiting period, insurers can cap their liability on such ailments. Increasingly most restrict this capping to cataract alone and those products get full marks. Co-payment, in which you bear a portion of the claim amount, is another factor to consider, especially if you are a senior citizen. Given that you are more likely to need medical care at that age, insurers limit their liability by asking you to pay a part of the bill. For others, there may be co-payment on certain ailments or if treatment is done outside the insurers’ network of hospitals. Those with no co-payment, get full marks.

The weightage on no-claim bonus is 5.5%. If a claim is not made, insurers reward you by increasing the sum insured. Those that bump up your bonus by 10% or more in a no-claim year get full marks given that medical inflation is at least 10%.

Claims settlement record comprises 25% of the weightage. We have sub-divided it into three parts: percentage of pending claims over six months has a weightage of 5%, percentage of settled claims is 15%, and claims complaints per 10,000 claims registered gets 5%. Complaints registered is a new category and is important as it reflects the number of dissatisfied customers with regards to claims. Since non-life companies don’t break up complaints according to product categories in public disclsoures, we have taken the data for the entire portfolio. Life insurers have sent data specific to their health portfolio. Claims settled is calculated by dividing the number of claims settled by number of claims on which the insurer has taken a decision. The denominator is the sum of claims settled plus claims repudiated plus claims closed.

The methodology

We took the data from insurers’ websites, product brochures and public disclosures, and sent the same to insurers to cross check and point out discrepancies. Three insurers, Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd, United India Insurance Co. Ltd and Star Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd, did not respond.

Each parameter had a weightage, a score was assigned and a weighted score was calculated. This was added up for the final score, which could range between nil and 100%. Policies with most of these features have been rated A and their scores lie between 65% and 100%. Subsequently, policies shift to B with a score of 45-64%, and the rest are in the C category.

Don’t stop at the final ratings; download the granular ratings of each policy for all parameters fromwww.livemint.com/mintmediratings. Choose the features you need in a policy and then pick one according to your budget.