One-quarter of websites fail FSA review

28th November 2007

One in four financial firms have failed a review by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) examining the standards of online advertising.

In an examination of 77 companies, 25 per cent of websites did not present clear and unbiased information. The FSA also claimed the sites were difficult to navigate.

"For many people the internet is the channel of choice for shopping around for financial products," said Dan Waters, director of retail policy and themes at the FSA.

"It is so important that firms' websites are fair, clear and not misleading," he added.

The FSA is due to look at websites again in March and claims it will take action if they remain substandard. The body has improved its monitoring of online advertising after a number of failures were identified in 2005-06.

Promotion World recently advised companies that regularly redesigning their website to ensure they are up-to-date and easy to navigate would boost sales.