Insurance & Assurance

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) requires that the final recorded version of advertisements are approved by an “authorised person”, sometimes known as a “compliance officer”.

As guidance, the Radiocentre clears scripts with the following wording:
“The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 requires that certain advertisements be approved by an authorised person within the meaning of the Act. This script approval is neither prejudicial to, nor does it replace, that requirement. A certificate of approval of the completed commercial by the authorised person must be submitted to each radio station. The radio stations should not broadcast the commercial without the approval certificate and this Radiocentre Script Clearance Form”.

Copy must not suggest that the advertiser’s product will invariably save the consumer money. Qualified copy such as “You could save money off your car/home insurance in X circumstances” is acceptable, subject to satisfactory evidence.