'You've ruined Christmas!' PayPal cause outrage with festive advert claiming parents buy their children presents - and Santa has nothing to do with it

• e-mail

Web money transfer website PayPal has been slammed by customers for broadcasting a Christmas advert in which they infer Santa Claus is not real.

The firm has been blasted for their festive TV and internet offing, which features two young brothers anxious their Christmas has been cancelled.

They reach that conclusion as they have not seen their parents return home with sack loads of shopping in the weeks leading up to December 25.

PayPal has been blasted for their festive TV and internet offing, which features two young brothers (pictured in the foreground) anxious that their Christmas has been cancelled. They reach that conclusion on the basis they've failed to see their parents return home with bags of shopping in the weeks leading up to December 25

Critics of the clip, which has also been shared countless times online, claim the narrative suggests parents are solely responsible for Christmas gifts - and that Santa plays no part 

However, the reason they have not caught them hauling their gifts through the door is because they have ordered them online - instead using PayPal to pay.

Critics of the clip, which has also been shared countless times online, claim the narrative suggests parents are solely responsible for Christmas gifts - and that Father Christmas plays no part.

They have demanded the short film be pulled from broadcast, with many complaining to the Advertising Standards Authority. 

The advert begins with this perfect winter's scene - a family home decked in Christmas lights and covered in fresh, white snow 

Inside, two young brothers are seen speaking of their concern about a perceived lack of Christmas presents - as they haven't seen their parents arrive home with any in the run up to the big day

However, the reason they've not caught their mother and father hauling gifts through the door is because they've ordered them online, using PayPal to pay

Angry viewers also took to Twitter to vent their frustrations at the company.

Ally Sykes posted: 'Has anyone seen the advert for PayPal? Man alive, talk about ruining the magic of Christmas.'

Charlotte Bull added: 'So sad at your thoughtless Christmas advert. Father Christmas brings the presents - not you PayPal'.

The advert has drawn plenty of criticism online, with viewers left fuming at the suggestion that parents are solely behind Christmas presents

Some people - including Twitter user @keelydalf - called for the advert to be taken off the air to avoid ruining Christmas for young children

It has been branded 'horrible' by some, with many pointing out how damaging the advert could be to children

Charlotte Bull said she was 'sad' at the 'thoughtless' Christmas advert, which suggested Santa is not real

Jasmine Jackson described the controversial advert as 'horrible' in a Twitter post

Twitter user @keelydalf added: 'You'd better pull that advert! What you thinking of ruining the magic for kids (and me)?! Santa makes the presents!'

The controversial advertisement was created by Florida based agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky.

It was aimed at highlighting how helpful the service can be while shopping for Christmas.

This is not the first Christmas advert to attract controversy for its suggestion Father Christmas is not real.

In 2011, Littlewoods aired an advert which featured children in a Christmas play who sing about who has bought their presents, with a chorus which said their mothers had done all the shopping.

The Advertising Standards Authority received almost 500 complaints from disgusted parents which they said would be upsetting to children.