UKCRA complains to ASA about latest HP campaign
January 6, 2020
HP’s latest fight against new built cartridges include information to customers warning of “imitation toners”, which according to the OEM prove damaging to printers.
The UK Cartridge Remanufacturers Association (UKCRA) has logged a complaint with the UK Advertising standards Agency in response to an email HP has circulated warning its customers of “imitation toners” and their damaging effects on printers.
In its email, HP claims that “over 1 in 5 problems caused by non-HP cartridges can cause damage to the printer” and that “49% of imitation cartridges failed during use or right out of the box”, compared to HP original supplies.
With the complaint UKCRA has requested UK Advertising standards Agency (ASA) “to request HP to cease and desist from any further campaigns of this sort” stating that the advertisement includes “many statements that are discriminatory” and tries to “to discredit third party toner and inkjet printer cartridges other than their own in their printers.”
UKCRA added: “Printer cartridges that are remanufactured (re-used) are not only more environmentally friendly they are more sustainable than recycling.”
The ASA will try to resolve complaints as quickly as possible but has a duty to make sure their investigations and decisions are thorough and robust. Straightforward issues can be resolved in a matter of days, but in a small number of complex cases it can take six months or more to complete.
We will keep you posted.
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