PayPal accused of ruining Christmas for children after suggesting Santa is NOT REAL
PAYMENT provider PayPal has come under fire for an advert that suggests children's Christmas presents do not come from Santa.
PayPal has been accused of ruining Christmas
Upset parents said the advert had effectively ruined Christmas for their children after it was widely screened over the weekend.
The Adverts Standard Authority (ASA) said it had received 233 complaints relating to the advert and the content in little more than a day and that they were still coming in.
The advert features two young boys who are worried that they won't be getting any gifts this Christmas because their parents don't appear to have been out shopping.
Twitter user Sarah Hoey wrote: "Am I along at being upset over @paypal advert ruining Father Christmas for my kids? We all know we can do Xmas shopping online."
The PayPal advert features two boys worried they won't get presents
PayPal UK Christmas Advert – No Presents
Another user The Arch said: "So sad that and annoyed @paypal decided to spoil Christmas for so many! Rubbish advert, no heart, should be removed!"
A spokesperson for the regulator said that adverts shouldn't provide content that could be harmful or upsetting to children and is now assessing the complaints received.
However, in reaction to the complaints the provider has changed its policy and said the ad will now only show the advert after the 9pm watershed.
A PayPal spokesperson said: “We are sorry that some people have been upset by our new UK Christmas TV advert.
"Our ad aims to take a fun look at those Christmas presents kids know come from their parents, and not in any way say Father Christmas doesn’t also deliver presents to them.
"We want every child to experience the magic of Christmas.
"However, we have listened to our customers’ feedback.
"We’re making arrangements that as soon as TV channels will allow, our commercial will run only after 9pm, the ‘watershed’ after which it is assumed that younger children will not be watching TV.”
Am I alone at being upset over @PayPal advert ruining Father Christmas for my kids? We all know we can do Xmas shopping online!
— Sarah Hoey (@Shoey30) November 1, 2015
@PayPal your advert just ruined Christmas for about 1 million children
— Beckymetphan18/10/15 (@phanjapan_) November 3, 2015
Just seen the #paypal Christmas advert ! Talk about spoiling it for the kids #fatherchristmas ??????? @PayPal #PaypalAdvert
— Corrinne (@CorCor84) November 3, 2015
PayPal has said it will now screen the advert after the watershed
PayPal has been accused of ruining Christmas for children