Hotel threatening to sue us for bad review

[Itsalongwayto]

Unashamedly posting in AIBU for traffic. We stayed in a truly dreadful place over the August BH weekend. I wrote to the owner afterwards expressing our displeasure and with a long list of complaints including unsecure blind pulls, a trampoline with no safety net, water features with no warning, general filth and 1980s decor (I expect more at £300/night). Additionally one of the curtain poles fell down on my head. He wrote back ignoring most of my points but stating that he was disappointed that I hadn’t said thank you to them for fixing the curtain pole so quickly . I submitted a review on reevoo and Tripadvisor, neither of which have been published yet......but he has emailed threatening to sue us if we don’t take our review down (I’m assuming he has been sent a preview). We have photographs of everything except the awful smell.
I’m assuming it’s safe to just ignore and block? I’m not taking my review down.

He won't sue.

they are trying to bully you

He won't do anything. Attach the pics to the review if you can.

Did they fully refund you?

Think I’d also be contacting the tourist board and telling them he’d made threats to sue you too.

I’d add to your review that you’ve been threatened. By the owner

Did you upload photos too? I’m not sure I’ve seen a water feature with a warning at a hotel and if the trampoline had no net like many don’t, then it’s up to you if you use it but if the place was filth and you had the curtain rail incident then that’s fair on its own.

I'd add to your review that you’ve been threatened. By the owner

^^This and would also attach the pictures.

Sue you for what? I’d add bullying to the review & leave him to it. It’d be interesting if it made it to court.

Have attached the pics to the review

No refund offered- he said normally he would offer a return visit, but that it seemed pointless. we wouldn’t go back if we were paid.

@TellySavalashairbrush good idea.

You have the threat to sue in a screenshot? Add that.

I stayed at a best western in the West Country. They refunded me if I removed the post, I did (we needed the money) but I wish I hadn’t as what I said was true. As long as you can back it up (and presumably they aren’t disputing anything you said in the email). They won’t sue.

Yep, contact tourist board. Stick to your guns and use your evidence.

You're covered by qualified privilege, don't take it down.

How big were the water features and what warnings did you think they should have had on them? Also I’ve yet to see safety blind pulls. I know they’re recommended due to safety precautions for children, but tbh it’s not something I would complain about. And 80’s decor you would have noticed on the online pictures? Definitely wouldn’t have been happy about the dirt though.

@MiddleClassProblem

Did you upload photos too? I’m not sure I’ve seen a water feature with a warning at a hotel and if the trampoline had no net like many don’t, then it’s up to you if you use it but if the place was filth and you had the curtain rail incident then that’s fair on its own.

Sure, it's up to you as a parent - but hidden water features and unsafe trampolines are exactly the kind of thing I'd want to read in a review before paying for somewhere.

Lol, he’s going to sue you for telling the truth, that you can prove? Ok...?

And you should have thanked them for fixing a curtain pole that fell on your head?

This bloke is having a laugh. I’d augment the review with some pics if you’re still able to edit it.

ignore block and ask trip advisor if you can add the threat to sue to the review

@Grrretel I didn’t think they meant the water feature was hidden as that seems a bit pointless iyswim

They should not be making threats. It's that simple.

However, some of the items on your list seem a bit precious. I've not seen water fountain warnings anywhere and as for 1980s decor not being what you expect, I don't think£300 a night equals being decorated to the taste of the guest.

Other things you list as valid, but it sounds like you've sent an arsey complaint to the hotel, they've got a normal way of resolving things (which you made it clear wouldn't be good enough in your original complaint) and then gone to a public forum to further make a point. There's no excuse for the threats to sue, but the overall thing sounds very dramatic.

Omg...it wasn't in west wales was it? I have seen almost exactly this on TripAdvisor before and was .

We stayed in the place I'm thinking of ourselves and it wasn't that bad, but the responses from the owner / manager on there when people were critical were absolutely bonkers and sometimes borderline threatening.

@Livelovebehappythe photos online were not the same as the apartment we stayed in- despite specifically being labelled as such. I have screen shots of that also.

Water features- a river with no warning just below the trampoline. In a place that sells itself as child friendly I’d expect a note somewhere about deep water.

“I’d add on to the review that you’ve been threatened by the owner.”
This.

I’d also be going to the press and making a right Holy show of them. No 2 ways about it!!!!!.
If they can’t handle bad reviews they either want to up their game or get out of business.

Was it a hotel in Pembrokeshire, on the cliffs?

photos online were not the same as the apartment we stayed in- despite specifically being labelled as such. I have screen shots of that also
In which case I take back what I said about the decor. I see your point. That's really misleading