Advertising agency behind Wonga's elderly puppets cuts ties with payday lender

A spokesperson for Albion advertising agency said they wished the company well in the future

(Wonga)

The advertising agency behind Wonga’s elderly puppets has decided to cut ties with the business, citing “certain practises” used by the controversial payday lender.

London advertising agency Albion, who have worked with Wonga since 2011, claimed that they had severed links to the firm after being made aware of some of the businesses practises.

"We created some memorable work in that time across the Wonga brand, product and communications that took them from a disruptive start-up to the mainstream,” an Albion spokesperson told Campaign.

"However, there have been certain practices that we now know went on before we worked with the business and then during the tenure of our relationship that we were unaware of and that we categorically do not agree with.”

Wonga, known for short-term, high-interest loans, has been forced to tighten its lending procedures after a number of high-profile cases highlighting its practises brought widespread criticism.

In 2014 the company was forced to pay £2.6 million in compensation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for using fake legal letter to chase customers for debts.

Wonga chairman Andy Haste, who took the helm of the business in July 2014, has promised to clear up the lender’s reputation and practises, removing the elderly puppets – which he said might attract children – and pulling all UK TV advertising.

The company is now advertising for a new advertising agency and although Albion will not bid for the position an Albion spokesperson said the company wished “Wonga well in the next stage of their journey”.

A spokesperson for Wonga said: "As part of the significant changes we’re making at Wonga, we’ve started the search for a new creative agency.

"We’re committed to building a responsible, sustainable business and to communicating with the right customers in the right way," they told Campaignlive.co.uk.