False Negative Reviews - How to get rid of them?

[khalid]

Hi all,

Thought I might be able to get some good advice from knowledgeable internet types here regarding a problem I'm having....

I work for a few companies that supply products and services throughout the UK. Between the companies, a couple of negative reviews have been found that are either false or completely innacurate and as the websites they are posted on are established, at present they are ranking above the related company's website when searching for their name online.

One of the review websites is owned by a journalist who point blank refused to take it down and even our lawyer didn't want to fight her over it as he thought she could have a field day in the press about us.

The second review site spells our company name completely wrong and the review is utter crap, not even proper English.

I'm working on making the company's websites rank number 1 for their business names but until then, and even after, these reviews are a cause for concern.

The website that hosts the second review hasn't even returned my e-mail and getting ignored seems to be their speciality.

Legally what can be done to remove or verify these negative claims? It seems like any Tom, Dick or Harry can post a review and realistically I could go online and write hundreds of negative reviews about our competitors...this isn't fair at all!

Thanks in advance!

 

[GreyWing]

As far as I know mate the website admin is not responsible for the content, however after you have notified them of the problem then they are from that point on.

But yes you can take legal action if you feel it is affecting your business and they are untrue.

 

[Skinner]

Hit the webhost with a take down, because of the reletively low amounts of money they make from the client, they won't even argue it they will just nuke the site.

Make sure they are not on a reseller account tho, as complaining the host on a reseller is actually complaining to them. You need to complain to the actual hosting provider. If they are on a deicated server then you extremely limited, and only hope is that the management will look dimly but their liability is somewhat less on dedicated boxes and almost zero on self managed.

 

[khalid]

Hit the webhost with a take down, because of the reletively low amounts of money they make from the client, they won't even argue it they will just nuke the site.

Make sure they are not on a reseller account tho, as complaining the host on a reseller is actually complaining to them. You need to complain to the actual hosting provider. If they are on a deicated server then you extremely limited, and only hope is that the management will look dimly but their liability is somewhat less on dedicated boxes and almost zero on self managed.

What do you mean a take down? How should this be worded? What legal rights do I have to order it?

 

[rob]

As I said a month or two ago - its doable, however it sounds like the legal people you use are scared of the site.

rock + hard place...

 

[bb99]

I've dealt with this sort of thing before in my old job...

Given what you've said, I think you need to get an alternative solicitor with experience in this area. Not cheap of course - £250 or more per hour

But you can use the "free meeting" to brief them and then give them an hour to write a ball trembling letter.

 

[bensd]

I've dealt with this sort of thing before in my old job...

Given what you've said, I think you need to get an alternative solicitor with experience in this area. Not cheap of course - £250 or more per hour

But you can use the "free meeting" to brief them and then give them an hour to write a ball trembling letter.

If someone went down this route could they ask them to remove content and pay their legal costs?

 

[Skinner]

My use of take down is a blunt way of saying take it down or else. You have to be a little more gentle worded on the first attempt, the second and subsequent (now they are aware) you can be a little more agressive.

p.s. We are using http://www.lawdit.co.uk now, a chap called Riyaz if you wanna give em a buzz and run it by him, he'll usually give you some around about advice on the phone, which means when it comes to playing hard he's upto speed, and can rattle a letter off for pennies (comparatively)

 

[crabfoot]

I don't like the way the law works in these matters - actually I think it is a heap of doo - but to help an AD member -

This is a case of libel. The UK libel law does not require any proof that the claim is accurate, it requires only that a libellous statement defames the character of a person or corporate entity, and that the statement is available for viewing in the UK.

There are cases where US companies have resorted to the UK libel laws to prosecute and win libel suits in London, on the grounds that the defamatory statements are visible and available to UK citizens.

You can threaten these people with a libel suit (and win, if you are sure of your points). You do not have to prove you are right or wrong - you have to show that the statements are defamatory to your customer, and if what you have said is right, that is not difficult. If you have right on your side, that only strengthens your case.

I don't like the way the law works because it defends the viewpoint of the individual, even if he's a yoyo - if he believes the world is flat, he's entitled to express his views.
But in this case - USE THE THREAT.

 

[khalid]

Thanks for all the replies. I've contacted a few lawyers who want £xxx for an opinion and the one Skinner recommended has advised a letter costing £xxx to the ISP should prompt them to pull the plug so I'll need to speak to the company owner to see how they want to play it.