FreeNow caught telling porkies in their ads

[watty]

Curious that the copywriters couldn't fit FN into the headline and the story is kinda hidden...

Ad regulator upholds complaint against ‘misleading’ An Post mail delivery claim

<snip An Post story >

The ASAI also received 33 complaints related to an advertisement for taxi app FreeNow. The advert, which appeared on the outside of buses and on Instagram, read “earn up to €1,300 a week.”

The majority of complaints came from taxi drivers, who said that the earning potential referenced in the ad was misleading as it was not achievable. Others added that deductions, such as app commission, fuel and licence fees, were not taken into consideration.

FreeNow said that the figure was taken from driver earnings in 2022, with 7pc of drivers earning up to €1,300 a week. This was also based on 31 hours of using the FreeNow app.

The ASAI said that this statistic should have been referenced in the advertisement, as well as the number of hours involved to illustrate level of commitment required. It said it was not clear that commission would be deducted from earnings and stated that the advertising should not appear in same format.

€42/hr, every hour for 31 hours = €1,300 

[mercenary for hire]

1300 is not worth a bollox when you factor in inflation and the cost of being on the road plus the hefty tax bills lads are paying recently.Fair play to those that complained.It never occured to me, instead I just deleted they app.

[watty]

More info from RTE - https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0227/1434779-asai-complaints/

Data provided by Free Now outlined the number of weeks worked and the weekly earnings for the Free Now drivers over the year in question.

They said that earning data represented the top 5% of drivers in 2022 and therefore was a true representation of what someone could earn up to on a weekly basis using the app.

The advertisers highlighted the fact that more than 7% of the drivers had earned up to €1,300 a week driving Free Now in 2022.

The ASAI Executive said they undertook a basic analysis of the information provided by Free Now.

Their [ASAI] analysis showed that 83% being split nearly equally between €0 - €499 and €500 to €1,000, with 10%, having earned between €1,000 and €1,299. The remainder, 7%, earned more than €1,300.

The ASAI upheld that complaint on that issue. It also partially upheld a complaint about the same advertisment that it did not specify if the €1,300 figure was net or gross.

I'm surprised FN gave out that info so easily?  But 83% of FN drivers earn less than a grand a week v. 7% over €1.3k  As Frank Carson might say, it's the way I tell 'em

And again no mention of FreeNow in the RTE headline...

[silverbullet]

More info from RTE - https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0227/1434779-asai-complaints/

Data provided by Free Now outlined the number of weeks worked and the weekly earnings for the Free Now drivers over the year in question.

They said that earning data represented the top 5% of drivers in 2022 and therefore was a true representation of what someone could earn up to on a weekly basis using the app.

The advertisers highlighted the fact that more than 7% of the drivers had earned up to €1,300 a week driving Free Now in 2022.

The ASAI Executive said they undertook a basic analysis of the information provided by Free Now.

Their [ASAI] analysis showed that 83% being split nearly equally between €0 - €499 and €500 to €1,000, with 10%, having earned between €1,000 and €1,299. The remainder, 7%, earned more than €1,300.

The ASAI upheld that complaint on that issue. It also partially upheld a complaint about the same advertisment that it did not specify if the €1,300 figure was net or gross.

I'm surprised FN gave out that info so easily?  But 83% of FN drivers earn less than a grand a week v. 7% over €1.3k  As Frank Carson might say, it's the way I tell 'em

And again no mention of FreeNow in the RTE headline...

2 or 3 Pak drivers per car would yield quite a bit more.

[Bob Shillin]

Shows why all gov departments accept all FN proposals.

[Rat Catcher]

€1300 takings for 31 hours seems about right but, at least in my case, it'd be unlikely to all come via Free Now. I guess the post-midnight men would probably get €1300 off free now in 31 hours or maybe those that work DAP exclusively for Free Now. They don't mention that they take €200+ of the €1300... Jeez, I remember when drivers could do as many hours as they wanted for €80.

[Rat Catcher]

Shows why all gov departments accept all FN proposals.

That's down to good old fashioned bribery lobbying.