PayPal reschedules TV ad to save Christmas

PayPal were under fire less than 24 hours after airing their Christmas TV ad for the first time.

The advert debuted during Sunday night's X Factor and plenty of people are already saying that the payment company may have just ruined Christmas.

It features a couple with two young children, looking forward to Christmas. In the ad, the elder of the two brothers can be heard saying: "I have bad news Toby, I don't think we're getting any Christmas presents this year."

The main reason for the complaints is that people believe PayPal is suggesting that children's presents come from their parents, and that Father Christmas isn't real.

Watch the controversial ad here (article continues below)

The children are under the impression that they won't get any gifts because their parents haven't been out shopping as usual, however by the end of the ad we find out the parents have been shopping online.

The Guardian reports that the Advertising Standards Authority received more than 230 complaints from angry viewers.

A spokesman for PayPal said: "We just want to take a moment to say we're sorry that some people have been upset by our new UK Christmas TV advert."

Adding: "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."

Now, 233 complaints may not sound like very much, but the advert did only air three days ago. To put it in context, the 233 reported complaints surrounding this ad would rank it 7th on the top 10 list of most complained about ads last year.

The company have since said they will make the necessary arrangements so the ads will only be screened after the 9pm watershed from now on.

PayPal said: "We want every child to experience the magic of Christmas."