To be so upset people think we left without paying?

I'd be finding a no win no pay lawyer. It's the principle not the money, so the fact they'd take a large chunk of the settlement wouldn't bother me. I wouldn't be letting it drop.

Contact the solicitor firm that the County Tyrone family used to win their case. I know yours is slightly different in that they put a tiny disclaimer in about your table, BUT your pictures are plastered all over the post and you've been receiving hate for it. You hopefully have a case against them.

If you don't want to take legal action, or the solicitor advises against pursuing, then go to the media instead.

This is appalling. Your personal and professional reputations are at risk because of this libellous nonsense.

Your underage child has been posted round the internet.

CCTV has been misappropriated.

Get a lawyer to write a letter. Winning a case or getting a public apology (and settlement!) means the picture of you winning and you being named winning is the first thing that comes up on an internet search. Not Gary from the bookies and Susan from the cafe down the road speculating on social media about there being no smoke without fire, and that Margaret from the chippy always said never trusted you anyway. Etc.

There was a recent court case of a business that did this. They had actually paid but for some reason a staff member didn't think they had. Ring the police that's slander.

Because of @tothelefttotheleft's post where she mentions:
tothelefttotheleft · Today 21:09
People who keep saying you should sue-
Have any of you got any idea of the cost this would be?! It's madness to suggest this.

I must say that I do agree with her. In my first post, I suggested starting a lawsuit. However, don't proceed if finances are a struggle. Consult a solicitor and ask them to provide a letter threatening a lawsuit if your demands are not met. Keep reaching out to the responsible parties and try to resolve the issues directly by clearly stating what you need them to do. Encourage people you know to report the issue on online platforms as well.

You could get in touch with the ICO who govern GDPR

This - screenshot the post and make your own on the page with your version of the story, clearing it up. And mention that the owner is refusing to edit the post and picture at your request. Then mention that you’re in the process of reporting to ICO due to the lack of cooperation and harassment endured!

Do you own counter post on Facebook:
Post a photo of you all holding a receipt in the restaurant (photoshop/AI it) and tag the restaurant. Add a wall of text complaining about bad restaurants, with halfway down saying that of course this isn't about this restaurant 😇

Then get everyone you know to share it and tag them, and leave bad Google reviews about how they post images of innocent customers online.

This definitely breaks GDPR. Threaten to sue the restaurant unless they blur your images in the photograph. By blurring your images it’s makes it clear that you were not the guilty party. By removing the post altogether it could be ambiguous.

I don’t suppose it’s possible but I’d so love to do a charge back through the bank and repay, minus the generous tip!

Why do they need proof? The restaurant isn’t referring to them. They just happen to be in the picture so people are assuming it’s them.

Don't engage with the post or encourage others to, other than to report it. Otherwise it will go viral, which is not what you want! Definitely submit a written complaint to the pub (, or even better, visit in person and follow up in writing) - your first aim is to get them to take it down (ensure you screenshot the post and comments).
Then make a complaint to the information commissioners office.

Outrageous. Definitely seek legal advice!

It's a way of them getting free advertising by inferring a large party like yours has not paid. They'll get pity bookings to help them make up their lostc takings.

Go nuclear. They are very clearly suggesting it is your party who has not paid. They could have easily cropped the pictures to make the couple the focus. They have chosen not to as a large party walking out is much juicier for the social media witch hunting hoarde.

It sounds like someone has already linked the post to your work page - is that correct?

I'd be wanting substantial compensation for damage to my reputation. As I said, nuclear.

I would also post 1 star reviews on any available platform to advise potential, paying diners, that like you, their pictures could be posted on social media inferring they have not paid when they have. The owner/manager will not remove photos - if you value your reputation, do not eat there. I would state that you have called x times, emailed x times and now they are ignoring you and your reasonable request to crop or blur the photo background.

This is libel. A letter informing them you want it taken down and an apology otherwise you will sue for damages. It doesn't matter they clarified... you can show some people believe it to be you. Chatgpt will write a letter. You could argue for compensation also. They are being stupid

That's awful OP, I'd be livid.

I think that under GDPR you can report them to the ICO for misuse of CCTV images as these are considered personal data. I'm not up on the ins and outs but this link contains the phone number for an advice line that may be able to help https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/i-m-worried-about-how-an-organisation-has-handled-my-information/

Also get as many people as you can to report but not to comment on the post. Commenting will just increase engagement and mean that more people see it and misinterpret the contents.

Just a warning if you are going to go public with your receipt please blank out your payment details first. Good luck with this. The place owes you all a big apology.

What they have said is definitely defamatory if other people have assumed you are the perpetrators of the theft. You need to screenshot the comments where people are assuming it’s you as they are the proof you will need for a defamation claim. Obviously it needn’t go that far but they will be useful if you send a letter before action.

Can you also ask your pals to go and post on the page and get everyone to like their post so that their comments become the most relevant and go to the top?

In the example you gave a pub falsely accused someone. This pub haven't accused ops party of stealing. The situations aren't the same.

It’s not in doubt that she paid

Op that’s really horrible. Poor you. I’d definitely tell them you are cancelling next week’s booking and you’ll go elsewhere

I’m sorry this has happened. Why they didn’t blur your faces or edit post to say it’s the couple in the pic. Not the family

contact police if getting abusive calls

By saying they may be able to sue and get £75k off the pub

Take screen shots of what is happening, and where your other profiles are linked to. Try and keep a log of calls and messages and also contact from people asking why you haven’t paid! It shows the impact.
I’m sorry you’re going through this. You may also want to tell your employer/hr in case any TikTok detectives contact them!

This is absolutely despicable!

Of course people dont read everything on a post like that. Imagine how many people who know you and haven't said anything

Id be both mortified and furious. So sorry this is happening to you.

Report the post to Facebook both through the photo and through their business page.
I would reply to every single comment suggesting it was your table that left without paying, making it clear that you did pay and asking people to read the full post.
I would also keep commenting on their post and tagging the restaurant, explaining how this has affected your family and how they’ve now lost a good customer.
Make sure to leave a review on their Facebook page and Google too.
It will be down soon enough but if they persist call Citizens Advice if you are in the UK.