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.

janiesmutts
Even if the owner was nice to you and your account is true, nobody can argue that a reputable and respectful business owner would speak to customers in the way he has on Trip Advisor.
People usually have their nice face on when publicly identifiable, which makes an outsider really question this person's character.

His actions and his attitude have consequences. Nobody can threaten customers and be rude to them online and expect people to ignore it.

If he wants to run a respectable business and avoid criticism then he needs to look at his own conduct.

It’s a shame people asked exactly where it was and others posted direct links as there were enough subtle clues early on to find it with a quick google.

Now 5* reviewer(s) have been alerted and the thread get taken down after a bun fight.

Thread will get taken down

There's no reason why it should though.

If the owner has put his awful comments on Trip Advisor then he's obviously quite happy for the world to see how rude he is.

I’m a variable MN user, so not sure, other than the direct link, why this thread would need to go? And why can’t they just take the identifying post down?

This is just an empty threat.

You have evidence of an ongoing complaint and conversation with this bully to back up your review.

Let him sue if he wishes (which he won't do anyway), he would lose.

Probably because if it is defamatory, Mumsnet can be liable for hosting defamatory material.

Plus ‘not in the spirit’

Janiesmutts, sorry people have sent you nasty messages that is very childish, though I'm unsure if you mean pmd you or the comments on here?
I think people are suspicious if someone has other name changed to post, or recently signed up to post backing him up. No excuse if you've had nasty personal messages sent though.
What do you think if his comments to the reviews though? I am confused as your view flies in the face of the evidence of what he is like in his own words

Not call if you have pms. I can’t see why reason people would want to pm you or “hunt you down” even if your posts are not genuine. No one has been personally attacked by you (not saying that’s a valid reason but a bit more understandable).

@janiesmutts have you actually received personal messages to your MN message inbox? You need to report them. There is the option right there in your inbox.

You say people have tracked you down online? Have you received communication outside of MN? Really?

OR, do you just mean you got replies on a thread you commented on and got an email notifying that you got tagged... (that means your username was mentioned on a post comment)

@janiesmutts For someone who created a MN account solely for the purposes of commenting on this thread, sadly I find your claim to be unrelated to the owner, and "just an honest lady" quite disingenuous.

I also find it highly unlikely that anyone on this thread has hunted you down outside of MN, as you have insinuated, considering you haven't actually personally insulted anyone on this thread and you have only ever posted a handful of times on this one thread, making it nigh on impossible for anyone to find you IRL.

Do I think you are either the owner, or somehow connected to the owner? Yes. Do I think you're now put out because you have been caught out? Also yes. But maybe I'm just a sceptic.

@janiesmutts, it sounds like you might be new to mumsnet. Sorry you've been hunted down online. That's not acceptable.
The best thing to do is pick a username that's random and totally non identifiable. Perhaps consider changing it on a regular basis as well, if you really want to remain totally anonymous.
On a thread like this, I think it is human nature for folk to want to look into comments/posters in more detail, especially those that post an opinion different from the norm.
In your case, as an outsider looking in, whether it is true or not, you appear to have joined the sight as a newcomer, then posted comments that have backed up the hotel owner. Is that correct? I am sure that your opinions/reviews are totally genuinely yours, however I can see why other posters might be suspicious that perhaps you are in some way connected to this business.
At any rate, it is unacceptable for you to be contacted privately, and you should report anyone to mumsnet who does that.

On a slight aside, have you read the trip adviser reviews, and the hotel owners responses? What's your opinion on the way he responds to reviews that aren't favourable? Do you think that's a professional way to run a business? Very interested in your thoughts

Oh, and see below, previous poster. Any time your name is tagged in a public post, you will get an email
Sent to you to let you know. That's not a private message from the poster, just a notification that you have been tagged. I use the mumsnet app and have been on this site for several years, and I'm still unsure where the in-app PM inbox is! 😂
Just in case you were confusing the two.

https://www.makeitsafe.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Surveyor-Installer-Guide-for-Trade.pdf

The blind pull cords are definitely a hazard to children.
@BLKS7 I am so, so sorry.

I doubt very much that there have been nasty messages or any doxxing.
If there have been, then report them.
I recognised the user name janiesmutts from elsewhere, as an online seller. ( Amongst other things).
She joined up solely ime to post in support of this dreadful bully of a man whom she says she knows. Which of course, she is perfectly entitled to do. Just as I am perfectly entitled to say I recognise her as an internet based trader in four words, up thread. No personal information given.
I'll leave it there.

Hello thankyou for actually reading my post for what it was, Our own experience as a family.
I can't put my name as it's already taken but I have gone by this for over 20 years as I love my dog's 💕
I did join Mumsnet when I had my 2nd baby girl as I had such bad PND & my Chronic Fibromyalgia & ME from my 1st little girl nearly 11 years ago.
I was just shocked that they had hunted/looked me up to find out more about me, Yes I sell online, I haven't been able to work since my 1st born and since the very first time after 2 years of working I am actually able to have a bit more pride in myself and save for something nice for me and my family, I was just so shocked that they attacked my business when that's nothing to do with anything about this post. I have read both sides of the story, On different sites since yesterday and I feel nothing will be resolved. When I stayed at a Hotel in Bristol I booked and planned for a long time with friend's it was awful, Instead I spoke to the Manager & we went back to stay and they made sure it was good, It was wonderful.xxxx.

I agree I will no longer be commenting and hope I speak to some kinder member in the future like I did years ago ❤️

This guy's entire life is over the internet - every complaint to the FSA, every planning dispute, every prosecution, all the interviews, all the reviews and his replies.

What's the difference between someone starting a thread saying "hey look at this" like the Sheffield pub landlady response to complaints - and a thread like this?

80s decor - you saw the photos before booking. Was the decor in the photos misleading?

Trampoline without safety net - many trampolines at leisure centres and holiday sites don't have nets. Some commercial ones don't come with nets. It's up to you to allow your children to use it or not.

Blind cords - tie them up? I assume that's what you mean. Tell the hotel to shorten them and fit to a clear securely.

Safety signage on a water feature - why do you think that is necessary? A toddler isn't going to read and risk assess based on a sign. An adult can see it.

janiesmutts it was a daft idea to use a name that you use on other platforms, for business or other.
Why don't you report each of your posts to get them deleted.
Then come back to Mumsnet as a different username.

i cant believe its got 4 stars must be alot of fake reviews

janies of course youre entitled to your opinion but doesnt personal attacks speak for themselves from the owner-of course hes nice to locals he has to see them every day and tbf you dont have to stay there do you

I'm really disappointed (and over invested) that the owner hasn't yet replied to your review

@SquirtleSquad

I'm really disappointed (and over invested) that the owner hasn't yet replied to your review

I agree. I'm still sorting through his responses to other reviews, but I was really hoping he'd respond in his usual "not my fault" manner.

lol this thread took a turn i did not expect

@SquirtleSquad I’m waiting to be called into my boss’s office because he has written alleging that I’m a threat in my work environment , as he threatened.