Camp Education Society's - Dr. Arvind B. Telang Institute of Hotel Management

Recommendation: Upheld | Medium: Suo Motu - NAMS (TAMS)

The ASCI approached the advertiser for its response in addressing the objection raised in the complaint. The advertiser was offered an option to seek Informal Resolution (IR) of the complaint by modifying or withdrawing the claim objected to in the advertisement, or alternately to substantiate the claim with the required supporting data. The advertiser was also offered an opportunity for a telecon with the ASCI Secretariat, which they did not avail nor did they submit their written response. The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) noted that no response was received from the advertiser prior to the prescribed due date for this complaint. The CCC viewed the print advertisement and observed that the advertiser’s catering institute offers under-graduate courses in the hotel management sector and claims to provide “100% Placement Assistance” to their students. Upon careful consideration of the complaint and in the absence of any response from the advertiser, the CCC concluded that while the advertiser may be providing placement assistance to their students in getting jobs in the relevant industry, the use of 100% numerical is not relevant for “Placement Assistance” claim. There cannot be a percentage assigned to any assistance claim such as 40% or 80% assistance. The use of “100%” as a descriptor in the claim is misleading by implication and is likely to lead to widespread disappointment in the minds of students. The print advertisement contravened Guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions and Programs as well as Chapters I.4 and I.5 of the ASCI Code. This complaint was UPHELD.