Left a 1 star review for Mr Clutch, and was threatened by their lawyers

onomatopoeia99

CrazyL1976 said:

 Isn't this supposed to be a country of (mostly) free speech?

Free speech is a protected right under article 10 of the ECHR (Freedom of expression) and corresponding part of the HRA.  Even so, it has limits.  For example, copyright.  For another, state secrets - just try standing on Speakers' corner reading out classified information and see how far that gets you.  For another, contempt of court, try naming a defendant whose name has been withheld by a judge.  For another, defamation, which is where we are here.  The only place in the UK with absolute freedom of speech is the palace of Westminster, and that is guaranteed under the Bill of Rights (1689) and known as parliamentary privilege, which is how MPs can sometimes do the things I've listed above in the commons chamber and not face prosecution.

Obtaining a ruling of defamation is much harder than it used to be as the law was reformed in 2013 following Singh vs The BCA , prior to that London was known as the libel capital of the world.  Since the passage of the Defamation Act in 2013, 'truth' is now a statutory defence.

Tokmon

CrazyL1976 said:

Well, I'm not here for sympathy.  It's probably down to being one of those "you needed to have been there" and me not giving all the details, but if you had a car you knew really well, and also knows a way around a toolbox, you'd appreciate that 4000 miles on a new, apparent, Sachs clutch isn't the norm.

Yes, I should've had the checks done, but I forgot, as I was concentrating on essential travel.  As a DIY mechanic and precision engineer by trade, I made the conscious decision not to let these people have me over for more money after they'd done me almost a grand for a clutch that lasted only 4000 miles.  I'm also not some nipper in a hatchback wheelspinning away from traffic lights everyday.  I drive a diesel estate car and am in my mid 40s.

I just wanted to highlight the fact that this is what they do, they'll get their lawyers on you if you are negative about them.  Isn't this supposed to be a country of (mostly) free speech?  It's a bit heavy handed.  

Alas, use them at your peril.  Case closed.

Wheelspinning away from lights or similar isn't the only way to wear out clutches fast. A person in the mid 40's driving a diesel estate can easily wear out a clutch in 4000 miles if they are constantly riding the clutch when pulling away. 

You could have put the checks in a calendar so you didn't forget like most people would have. 

To write the review without having the checks down or to even let them look at it is a bit unfair because you have no idea if they did anything wrong or if they would inspect it and replace it if they found something.

But getting their lawyers to write a letter to you is no different than you writing a review for people to see it's both just people providing information from the way they see it to others. 
Just remember even though a letter from a lawyer with legal terms can see scary to the uniformed it doesn't really mean anything unless they take you to court.