Blackmailed by a company I hired. What would you do here?

davidmcn

I don't think you can really do much about somebody leaving bogus reviews (unless they actually amount to libel), and even less about somebody who has merely threatened to leave bogus reviews.

pawntoc5

hollydays wrote: »

I think it's quite simple to inform your employer now, so they can remove the review if it appears!

I'm thinking of the bigger picture - how unfair it is that he's blackmailing people into removing negative reviews so his online presence is skewed and not representative of what his company is like. I want to warn others about his questionable business tactics, which is why the more important thing here is whether there's a governing body that oversees business ethics and practices.

hollydays

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pawntoc5 wrote: »

I'm thinking of the bigger picture - how unfair it is that he's blackmailing people into removing negative reviews so his online presence is skewed and not representative of what his company is like. I want to warn others about his questionable business tactics, which is why the more important thing here is whether there's a governing body that oversees business ethics and practices.

No there's not in this case.
If you want to warn others, name him here.

davidmcn

pawntoc5 wrote: »

I want to warn others about his questionable business tactics

Well, you'd need to start by naming him.

which is why the more important thing here is whether there's a governing body that oversees business ethics and practices.

There is no general "governing body of business ethics and practices", no. Some (a minority) of particular types of business are regulated. The vast majority, including photographers, aren't.

stragglebod

I suspect bluster. If he genuinely thought he had a case he wouldn't be wasting time tracking down your and your husband's employers, he'd be getting on and sending the letter before action and getting on with suing you.

This is just my personal opinion of course but my approach would be to contact him once and once only, thanking him for getting in touch, telling him that the review is accurate and will not be removed or edited, and that I won't be entering into any further discussion about it.

I'd leave out any mention of harassment because I suspect he's not actually going to follow through with any of it. But if he did, I'd be on to the police.

Threatening to sue isn't harassment - after all that's basically what a letter before action is - but threatening to make false allegations to an employer certainly is.

I agree with @hollydays about warning your employer about the possibility of a malicious review

kazwookie

I'd be telling him to get on with it and leave his reviews / sue you.

Then I'd tell him to jog on

Then I suggest you jog on in the other direction and get on with your life, blocking him from your social media / emails etc.

pawntoc5

stragglebod wrote: »

I suspect bluster. If he genuinely thought he had a case he wouldn't be wasting time tracking down your and your husband's employers, he'd be getting on and sending the letter before action and getting on with suing you.

This is just my personal opinion of course but my approach would be to contact him once and once only, thanking him for getting in touch, telling him that the review is accurate and will not be removed or edited, and that I won't be entering into any further discussion about it.

I'd leave out any mention of harassment because I suspect he's not actually going to follow through with any of it. But if he did, I'd be on to the police.

Threatening to sue isn't harassment - after all that's basically what a letter before action is - but threatening to make false allegations to an employer certainly is.

I agree with @hollydays about warning your employer about the possibility of a malicious review

Good shout. Thanks.

Yeah in terms of harassment I definitely had the whole "going beyond the boundaries of this transaction (ie. me and the videographer)" in mind. Threatening to involve unrelated parties (ie. my employer) with the clear intent of causing distress to me is definitely harassment. Just as I wouldn't go on his personal Facebook and try to contact his connections about him, he shouldn't be going beyond the boundaries of this transaction.

I wouldn't name him here because 1) it would have limited effect compared to reporting his business practices to an authority (at least, that's what I had in mind when first posting) and 2) he seems a bit unstable and will probably go nuts again citing libel if he thinks he's been wronged in a public space. Anyway, pretty sure I have a good idea how to handle this now. Cheers, everyone!

Manxman_in_exile

Suing you for libel would be very expensive.


I'd warn your employer and I'd tell the guy you've got the problem with that you've done so. Ask him if he wants your employer to sue him if he starts leaving malicious reviews. (I'm sure your employer has more resources than you do.)


Obviously your employer wouldn't sue (well - they might) but it's worth indirectly "suggesting" as a possibility. eg "Well go ahead if you like - but you should know that my employer takes their reputation very seriously".

steampowered

It sounds like bluster.

I would write back stating that approaching third parties in the manner he describes would constitute harassment contrary to the Protection From Harassment Act 1997, which would both constitute a criminal offence (for which he would be reported to the police) and a civil cause of action (for which you would start court proceedings).

I would also be tempted to state that he was in breach of contract due to the poor nature of the services provided, requesting a full refund, along with a statement that you will be starting court action to recover a full refund by way of a county court judgment (backed up by the use of bailiffs to enforce the judgment by taking control of goods if needs be) if the photographer continues to harass you.

Hopefully that would lead to a form of stalemate where you can both move on.

Frankly you are in the stronger position. Due to how the court system has been set up, suing someone for a refund and/or for harassment is much easier than cheaper than suing someone for libel !!!!

m0bov

Change review to 1 star and up date it with the threats and stalking. He will soon get the message.