Inbaal and her "accurate" psychic chums

A lot of psychics try to trade on their celebrity connections, or even claim to be celebrities in their own right.

(Image credit)

In the case of Inbaal (pictured above), the claim is arguably true. She has been on the telly quite a bit over the years, and she's a regular feature in all the superstition-promoting magazines I read.

Inbaal claims to be accurate - as do eight other psychics. Today I've contacted the ASA about all of them. Let's see if any of the claims they make are actually true!

I've grouped the nine complaints here, in a single blogpost, so they don't clutter up the sidebar. The complaints are mostly similar, so you might not need to read them all.

Inbaal (advert)

"I write to complain about an advert appearing in "High Spirit" magazine (August issue, p77).

The advert, for "Inbaal", promotes a psychic reading service available face-to-face, on the telephone or by SMS.

I suspect that the advert may be in breach of three sections of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP) code. I can provide an original copy of the advert by post, if required.

1. The advert contains the text:

"INBAAL - Celebrity Psychic - Inbaal has proved the accuracy of her readings many times on TV, Radio and magazines, (including this one [High Spirit Magazine] !)..."

2. The ASA Council has recently ruled (complaint ref. 122556 and 122562) against adverts for psychics whose readings are claimed to be "accurate".

3. Under Section 3.1 of the CAP Code, I challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate their claim that "Inbaal"'s psychic readings are accurate.

4. (i) "Inbaal"'s website, www.inbaal.com, gives a complete list of her appearances on TV, radio and in print.

(ii) I have not been able to find any demonstrations, on her site or elsewhere, of "Inbaal"'s psychic abilities which have taken place in controlled, laboratory conditions in which all potential sources of bias, either deliberate or unintentional, have been removed.

5. Therefore, under Section 3.1, I challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate their claim that "Inbaal"'s "accuracy" has been "proved...many times on TV, Radio and magazines"

6. Given that most consumers - very few of whom are trained magicians - are generally ignorant of the controlled experimental conditions required to prove a psychic ability:

(i) Under Section 7.1, I challenge whether the claim is misleading

(ii) Under Section 6.1, I challenge whether the claim "exploit[s] the credulity, lack of knowledge or inexperience of consumers"

7. I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or the magazine. I confirm that I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser or the magazine."

Alison's Straight Talk Psychic Services (advert)

"I write to complain about an advert appearing in "Soul and Spirit" magazine (Issue 31, Aug 2010, p91).

The advert, for "Alison's Straight Talk Psychic Services", promotes a telephone psychic reading service.

I suspect that the advert may be in breach of one section of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP) code. I can provide an original copy of the advert by post, if required.

1. The advert contains the text:

"Honest, direct, no nonsense readings. 30 years experience. Complete confidentiality. Excellent accuracy."

2. The ASA Council has recently ruled (complaint ref. 122556 and 122562) against adverts for psychics whose readings are claimed to be "accurate".

3. Under Section 3.1 of the CAP Code, I challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate their claim that the psychic readings provided by the service have "excellent accuracy".

4. I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or the magazine. I confirm that I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser or the magazine."

Angel Wishing Moon (advert)

"I write to complain about an advert appearing in "Soul and Spirit" magazine (Issue 31, Aug 2010, p90).

The advert, for Angel Wishing Moon Psychics, promotes a telephone psychic reading service.

I suspect that the advert may be in breach of one section of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP) code. I can provide an original copy of the advert by post, if required.

1. The advert contains the text:

"Phenomenally Accurate Clairvoyant Psychics blessed with the gift, guided by spirit and dedicated to helping you with a true psychic reading."

2. The ASA Council has recently ruled (complaint ref. 122556 and 122562) against adverts for psychics whose readings are claimed to be "accurate".

3. Under Section 3.1 of the CAP Code, I challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate their claim that the psychics and clairvoyants employed by the service are "phenomenally accurate".

4. I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or the magazine. I confirm that I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser or the magazine."

"Crystal" (advert)

"I write to complain about an advert appearing in "High Spirit" magazine (August issue, p80).

The advert, for "Crystal", promotes a telephone psychic reading service.

I suspect that the advert may be in breach of two sections of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP) code. I can provide an original copy of the advert by post, if required.

1. The advert contains the text:

"Crystal Genuine International Clairvoyant Medium. I work with Angels, Extremely accurate and in detail...Free healing with every reading...Absent healing available..."

2. The ASA Council has recently ruled (complaint ref. 122556 and 122562) against adverts for psychics whose readings are claimed to be "accurate".

3. Under Section 3.1 of the CAP Code, I challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate their claim that the psychic readings provided by the service are "Extremely accurate".

4. Under Sections 3.1 and 50.1, I challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate any of the following claims:

(i) "Crystal" can provide a "healing with every reading" over the telephone
(ii) "Crystal" can provide "Absent healing" over the telephone

5. I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or the magazine. I confirm that I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser or the magazine."

Gifted Psychics London (advert)

"I write to complain about an advert appearing in "Soul and Spirit" magazine (Isuee 31, Aug 2010, p91).

The advert, for Gifted Psychics London, promotes a telephone psychic reading service.

I suspect that the advert may be in breach of one section of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP) code. I can provide an original copy of the advert by post, if required.

1. The advert contains the text:

"GIFTED PSYCHICS...We specialise in providing the best psychic service to our clients. Call now for your helpful and accurate psychic reading."

2. The ASA Council has recently ruled (complaint ref. 122556 and 122562) against adverts for psychics whose readings are claimed to be "accurate".

3. Under Section 3.1 of the CAP Code, I challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate their claim that the service provides "accurate psychic readings".

4. I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or the magazine. I confirm that I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser or the magazine."

Jessica Griffiths (advert)

"I write to complain about an advert appearing in "High Spirit" magazine (August issue, p80).

The advert, for Jessica Griffiths/"Jessica's Psychic World", promotes a telephone psychic reading service.

I suspect that the advert may be in breach of two sections of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP) code. I can provide an original copy of the advert by post, if required.

1. The advert contains the text:

"Jessica's Psychic World - International Psychic Medium Clairvoyant Councillor [sic]...LOVE RELATIONSHIPS - PSYCHIC WISDOM - TO MANY CELEBRITIES - Amazingly Accuate - From £29 for 20 mins..."

2. The ASA Council has recently ruled (complaint ref. 122556 and 122562) against adverts for psychics whose readings are claimed to be "accurate".

3. Under Section 3.1 of the CAP Code, I challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate their claim that the service's psychic readings are "Amazingly Accurate".

4. (i) I have searched for evidence that the psychic featured in the advert, "Jessica", has worked with celebrities. I have found no reports suggesting it might be true (there are, for example, no mentions of the word "celebrities", or any named celebrities, on the service's website.)

(ii) Therefore, under Section 3.1, I challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate their claim that "Jessica" has given readings "TO MANY CELEBRITIES", and under Section 7.1 I challenge whether the phrase "PSYCHIC WISDOM TO MANY CELEBRITIES" is misleading.

5. I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or the magazine. I confirm that I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser or the magazine."

Kim Arnold (advert)

"I write to complain about an advert appearing in "Soul and Spirit" magazine (Issue 31, Aug 2010, p93).

The advert, for Pronto/Kim Arnold, promotes a telephone psychic reading service.

I suspect that the advert may be in breach of one section of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP) code. I can provide an original copy of the advert by post, if required.

1. The advert contains the text:

"KIM ARNOLD'S ORACLE LINE... Kim Arnold - renowned Tarot expert and founder of the annual UK tarot Conference has launched the Oracle Line to give the best in accurate psychic readings using some of the best psychics around..."

2. The ASA Council has recently ruled (complaint ref. 122556 and 122562) against adverts for psychics whose readings are claimed to be "accurate".

3. Under Section 3.1 of the CAP Code, I challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate their claim that the service provides "accurate psychic readings".

4. I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or the magazine. I confirm that I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser or the magazine."

psychicrealm.co.uk (advert)

"I write to complain about an advert appearing in "Soul and Spirit" magazine (Issue 31, Aug 2010, p94).

The advert, for PsychicRealm.co.uk, promotes a telephone psychic reading service.

I suspect that the advert may be in breach of three sections of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP) code. I can provide an original copy of the advert by post, if required.

1. The advert contains a testimonial, in quotes, as follows:

"Her team of readers are astonishingly accurate - they all give such specific information, i [sic] feel they know me better than I know myself! I'm delighted at what can be achieved"

2. The ASA Council has recently ruled (complaint ref. 122556 and 122562) against adverts for psychics whose readings are claimed to be "accurate".

3. Under Section 14.3 of the CAP Code, I challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate the testimonial claim that the psychic readings provided by the service are "astonishingly accurate".

4. Under Section 14.1, I challenge whether the advertisers hold signed and dated proof, including a contact address, for the testimonial.

5. Under Section 14.4, I challenge whether the testimonial is fictional, "presented as though [it is] genuine".

6. I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or the magazine. I confirm that I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser or the magazine."

Psychic Sense (advert)

"I write to complain about an advert appearing in "Soul and Spirit" magazine (Issue 31, Aug 2010, p95).

The advert, for PsychicSense, promotes a telephone psychic reading service.

I suspect that the advert may be in breach of one section of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP) code. I can provide an original copy of the advert by post, if required.

1. The advert contains a testimonial claim, in quotes, as follows:

' "A lovely, very fluent, very supportive, and very accurate reader. 10/10"* Heather (Scotland), September 2009'

2. (i) The asterisk refers to more text at the bottom of the advert, which reads

"*See the full testimonial at psychicsense.org"

(ii) In fact, the testimonial available on the advertiser's website is identical to the one in the advert; the text seems to mean "See the full [list of] testimonial[s] at psychicsense.org"

3. The ASA Council has recently ruled (complaint ref. 122556 and 122562) against adverts for psychics whose readings are claimed to be "accurate".

4. Under Section 14.3 of the CAP Code, I challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate the testimonial claim that at least one of the readers employed by the service is a "very accurate reader".

5. I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or the magazine. I confirm that I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser or the magazine."