What can be done about a competition business owner leaving a negative review for my business?

Jasonn1

MalMonroe said:

If all the other reviews are 5-star positive it's probably unlikely that one negative comment and score will affect your business too much. But as J_B says, are you able to comment on their review? If so, you could just return the favour. That may encourage your rival to remove her comment.

J_B said:

Are you able to comment on their review?

I can comment on her review, but that's really the last option, I doubt that she'd even check to see my comment. The ideal situation would be to have her review removed as that would restore my 5 star rating, it really bothers me that my only negative review is from a competitor

Jasonn1

Sandtree said:

Jasonn1 said:

Deleted_User said:

You'd normally just leave a factual reply to it.

Ideally, I'd like to have it removed, I was wondering if one anyone here has experience taking some sort of legal route to get libelous/malicious reviews removed.

The "legal route" on defamation is exceptionally expensive, even more so if you are an incorporated entity as you are forced to take professional representation.

You are much better off going through the Google (or whichever review service it was) complaints process to have it removed.

Obviously there is nothing to then stop them posting something similar again and so sometimes it may be easier to let it stand and disappear in the sea of good reviews than antagonise them with removal/account bans etc that may encourage them to post more often.

I've got business insurance and I think I paid extra for some added legal protection, I'll have to call them up to see if they can help. Maybe a letter from a solicitor will teach her to think again next time she decides to ruin other people's businesses.

theoretica

Jasonn1 said:

MalMonroe said:

If all the other reviews are 5-star positive it's probably unlikely that one negative comment and score will affect your business too much. But as J_B says, are you able to comment on their review? If so, you could just return the favour. That may encourage your rival to remove her comment.

J_B said:

Are you able to comment on their review?

I can comment on her review, but that's really the last option, I doubt that she'd even check to see my comment. The ideal situation would be to have her review removed as that would restore my 5 star rating, it really bothers me that my only negative review is from a competitor

You aren't commenting for her to see - but for potential customers to see.

elsien

Factual response. After all they’ve been daft enough to use their own name this time. Little to stop them getting mates to post reviews instead in future which would be harder to track down. 

k3lvc

Jasonn1 said:

emmajones1976 said:

How do you know its them who have done it, have they done something incredibly stupid like use their real name?

Yes, that's exactly what they've done.

But that's no proof that it's them - could be anyone who's just trying to stir trouble - presumably you've not just got one competitor ??

Jasonn1

k3lvc said:

Jasonn1 said:

emmajones1976 said:

How do you know its them who have done it, have they done something incredibly stupid like use their real name?

Yes, that's exactly what they've done.

But that's no proof that it's them - could be anyone who's just trying to stir trouble - presumably you've not just got one competitor ??

Let's just say that it's definitely without a doubt her that has left this review, I have evidence proving that.

Jasonn1

theoretica said:

Jasonn1 said:

MalMonroe said:

If all the other reviews are 5-star positive it's probably unlikely that one negative comment and score will affect your business too much. But as J_B says, are you able to comment on their review? If so, you could just return the favour. That may encourage your rival to remove her comment.

J_B said:

Are you able to comment on their review?

I can comment on her review, but that's really the last option, I doubt that she'd even check to see my comment. The ideal situation would be to have her review removed as that would restore my 5 star rating, it really bothers me that my only negative review is from a competitor

You aren't commenting for her to see - but for potential customers to see.

That's true, which is why I'm leaving it as the last option, my goal is try my best to have this review removed.

MobileSaver

Jasonn1 said:

 it's definitely without a doubt her that has left this review, I have evidence proving that.

If you have evidence then the suggestion from @Thrugelmir to follow Google's Review Removal policy is the way to go.

What you describe is a specific disallowed practice, "Conflict of Interest: Examples of disallowed practices include: Posting content about a competitor to manipulate their ratings."