Sales Promotions

Special offers, prize draws and competitions

Sales Promotions include premium offers, free offers, free prize draws and competitions. They usually last for a short period and can appear in advertisements, on product packaging, in newspaper front-page flashes and on the Internet.

The CAP (Non-broadcast) Code lays down rules about how promotions should be run. For example, the Code states that sales promotions should be prepared with a sense of responsibility to consumers and to society; they should be conducted equitably, promptly and efficiently and should be seen to deal fairly and honourably with consumers. Promoters should avoid causing unnecessary disappointment.

If you take up a special offer or take part in a promotion your interests are protected by the CAP (Non-broadcast) Code and we will investigate complaints that promotions don't meet the rules.

The Issues section contains more information about sales promotions and the rules that apply. It features the relevant Code clauses, recent Adjudications, news stories and a Background Briefing covering Sales Promotions.

Remember, if you want to complain about a sales promotion you can use the online complaints form.

Issues