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.

[Extracurricularfatigue]

@ShebaShimmyShake

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

You’re really not!

[covetingthepreciousthings]

Screenshot the threats of suing from the owner and add that onto your review.

I admit I thought it was perhaps a little previous to want warnings on a water feature but if it is a river that's just below a trampoline with no safety netting, I think it should have something up so people are aware of the deep water.

[HM1984]

Agree with the tourist board comments.

Also threaten to include blackmail in your updated review for TripAdvisor. You have evidence they are blackmailing you now too!

Add Google reviews to your list of reviews too, i always check them out before going anywhere in addition to TripAdvisor.

[Extracurricularfatigue]

But you are allowed fair comment of course.

[TatianaBis]

It was Fawlty Towers wasn’t it?

Ignore him OP. He’s just a bully.

[mbosnz]

I would say that if he said he'd sue for slander, you'd be saying that you'd be covered by truth (absolute defence), assuming you have collaborative evidence, and also, honest opinion.

[ithinkiveseenthisfilmbefore]

Add the bullying.

I'd probably remove it if I was offered a full refund. The damage will have been done once it's posted.

[Heffalooomia]

@Thehop

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

this!

[Elouera]

I'd hope that your reevoo and tripadvisor names are completely different from your own and anonymous? Even so, the owner would likely work out who the review was from anyways, but I don't think they get any review before its posted.

[SirGawain]

Even if he was foolish enough to sue you, (unlikely as it would be likely to get him even more bad publicity), he would not win the case if what you wrote was demonstrably true and written in good faith and you were not otherwise prejudiced against him.

[DameLucy]

Or * ‘put’ a claim in even 😂

[Disfordarkchocolate]

Leave it up but don't expect any joy from the tourist board. I let them know about a 4* rated place we refused to stay in because it was so dated and there was mould in our room. They couldn't have been less interested.

[LUZON]

I wouldn’t have expected a warning about the water or the trampoline and I’d not have complained about the 80’s style. I would, however, have been mad if the hotel was dirty.

Were there other reviews? If so had they posted photos?

[FAQs]

Anyone really want to know where it is?

Did you read the reviews and see images before you booked?

[CloudsCanLookLikeSheep]

Tell him to bring it on mate and I'll see you in court!
He can't sue you for telling the truth, and is just trying it on.
Tell him you'll accept an out of court settlement for £xxx - beat him at his own game

[diddl]

Water features with no warning was a river?

How does that work then?

[underneaththeash]

If you're paying £300/night I'd expect decent decor.

Ask them what they're going to sue you for!

[RedRumTheHorse]

You should edit your review and add something like "the hotel owner seems to be intent on getting famous by being on the worse hotels in the world list as he decided to threaten you with court action if you submitted this review." Then add screenshots of your messages with names blacked out.

[Tumbledryer1]

Interesting feature on bbc news website today about just this thing! People being blackmailed into removing poor reviews before getting a refund Etc.
Related to amazon but interesting read.
I would add in your review he threatened you and report to local authority or relevant authority.

[Laiste]

Reviews are for gathering personal opinion. If this was your opinion of course you have the right to air it. I'm pretty sure he'd be quite happy with decent reviews based solely on opinion.

He could have calmly posted a public response to your review if he thought he had a good case for doing so. I'd definitely be adding his threat to your review.

[TheGinGenie]

I'd be surprised if it's worth his money and effort to sue you. He's just a bully, threatening to sue would make me more inclined to leave it up!

[EggFriedCauliflowerRice]

How deep was the water OP?

[eurochick]

Hmm. It does sound a little bit like "one of those" reviews. The dirt is fair enough and the pictures not being of the same place can rightly be criticised but I'm not sure you can find fault because they didn't put a net on the trampoline or a warning sign on the river...

[Yetiyoga]

Can you explain the water thing? Is it a water feature or a river? Both of which wouldn't need a warning!

Curtain rail not great though.