Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hotel threatening to sue us for bad review

674 replies

Itsalongwayto · 08/09/2020 19:44

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 Shock. 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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
20
Treadcarefully1 · 18/09/2020 08:27

Yes, OP has started another thread saying that he has now sent her a six page solicitor’s letter threatening to pursue her over, amongst other things, the financial loss he has incurred because of the however many helpful marks there are.

Extracurricularfatigue · 18/09/2020 08:29

Ah.

testingmitb · 18/09/2020 08:46

Crikey, he's apparently an 'unpopular landlord', Who would have thunk it? www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/unpopular-devon-landlord-issued-another-3437752?

Fantabulous1 · 18/09/2020 09:20

@prh47bridge he is highly educated yet lacks common courtesy and manners. I read his responses to negative reviews. The man is a bully.

It is clear there are a few on here in support and trying to discourage the OP from ignoring. I would urge OP to go to citizens advice and the tourist board to see if any of what she did was wrong (personally I dont think she has done anything wrong!).

Can she report to the police as harassment?

Panicwiththebisto · 18/09/2020 09:57

I’m not in support of him. His modus operandi seems to be a reactive bully, hitting back rather than proactively trying to rectify the issues people have reasonable complaints about.

In my opinion, people would be more put off from booking based on his responses to negative reviews, which show and the contempt he holds the hotel guests in, than by people finding the OP’s review “helpful”.

It must be have been galling, to spend £300 a night for such shabby facilities, when the OP and her family could have stayed somewhere more salubrious and welcoming.

Treadcarefully1 · 18/09/2020 10:17

No, I am most definitely not in support of him.

But I have been on the receiving end of legal threats and it is a horrible place to be, even if you did what you did/said what you said with the right intentions.

People urging caution aren’t necessarily supporters of his but see it from the bigger picture point of view.

I agree I would probably go on his responses to the reviews rather than the helpful votes, but from his perspective a thread has been started to increase awareness of the bad review of this business, and people have, off the back of that thread, gone on to the site to mark the review as helpful.

I am certain that wasn’t the OP’s intention, but it also seems fairly sure that this bloke will stop at very little to get what he wants, and the question is, how far does the OP really want to pursue this? And at what cost?

TooTrusting · 18/09/2020 10:25

@Aridane

Complying with the demands in the letter is not a problem for you OP. Because all the demands flow from number 1. Number 1 only applies to defamatory comments. Your comments are true and fair comment. Therefore they are not therefore defamatory.

OP’s comments are defamatory - it just that truth is a defence to a defamation claim

If the statement is true then it cannot be defamatory. In the same way that if you acted in self defence it wasn't murder.
Extracurricularfatigue · 18/09/2020 10:33

Based on his own words alone, both on TA and also as reported by the media, this man is a bully who accuses other of bullying when they stand up to him. Unfortunately bullies often get what they want because the rest of us find it too stressful/unpleasant to stand up to them. I wouldn't blame the OP at all if she decided this was all not worth it to her.

iklboo · 18/09/2020 10:51

and the question is, how far does the OP really want to pursue this? And at what cost?

The question is how far does he want to pursue this? The OP is within her rights not to remove an accurate review which is opinion - which she has a perfect right to have. She has not been libellous, nor resorted to name calling and abuse. She has been at great pains not to name the owner or hotel here herself. The MN Super Sleuths did that. I'm not completely sure his argument would stand up in court, but he's welcome to try.

Treadcarefully1 · 18/09/2020 11:03

and the question is, how far does the OP really want to pursue this? and here’s where they reach a stalemate.

The OP didn’t do anything wrong starting this thread, but those who have become too heavily involved did, IMO, hence why presumably so many of the posts on this thread have now been removed.

But it would be interesting to try to find out if he’s done this before. The OP’s review isn’t the only negative one on the site, so does he threaten everyone who gives him a bad review with legal action I wonder?

prh47bridge · 18/09/2020 12:09

[quote Fantabulous1]@prh47bridge he is highly educated yet lacks common courtesy and manners. I read his responses to negative reviews. The man is a bully.

It is clear there are a few on here in support and trying to discourage the OP from ignoring. I would urge OP to go to citizens advice and the tourist board to see if any of what she did was wrong (personally I dont think she has done anything wrong!).

Can she report to the police as harassment?[/quote]
As I understand it, all he has done so far is threaten legal action (along with some other threats) and get a solicitor to write to the OP. If he starts contacting her employer, etc. it may be harassment but at the moment I don't think the police would be interested.

ShalomToYouJackie · 18/09/2020 12:10

My favourite response from the owner is where he said "A couple stayed in the same room after you and one of them was a plumper lady" wtf?!

Aridane · 18/09/2020 12:44

I'm not a legal bod, but is the OP responsible for other people talking about something published in the news?

Perhaps not - but mumsnet is!

Aridane · 18/09/2020 12:50

*@Aridane

B B

Aridane · 18/09/2020 12:56

OP’s comments are defamatory - it just that truth is a defence to a defamation claim

If the statement is true then it cannot be defamatory.
In the same way that if you acted in self defence it wasn't murder.

No!

Defamation = the publishing of a statement which lowers the individual or the company in the estimation of right thinking members of society generally. Broadly, the test is whether a statement would cause one to think less of the person or company to whom it refers.

Defences may be based on Truth (justification), honest opinion (fair comment), publication on a matter of public interest and privilege

iklboo · 18/09/2020 13:31

THIS IS USEFUL

The OP could use the first defence if taken to court.

Extracurricularfatigue · 18/09/2020 16:54

@Treadcarefully1

and the question is, how far does the OP really want to pursue this? and here’s where they reach a stalemate.

The OP didn’t do anything wrong starting this thread, but those who have become too heavily involved did, IMO, hence why presumably so many of the posts on this thread have now been removed.

But it would be interesting to try to find out if he’s done this before. The OP’s review isn’t the only negative one on the site, so does he threaten everyone who gives him a bad review with legal action I wonder?

I think the threat was made after the OP emailed her complaint to him, so it was pre-emptive. I can imagine it deters a lot of people.
Extracurricularfatigue · 18/09/2020 16:55

I meant to say it would deter people. I have no idea whether it’s something that other people have experienced though.

hoppingleg · 22/09/2020 15:07

Any update OP?

Original poster
Itsalongwayto · 23/09/2020 08:48

@hoppingleg, no update from the hotelier. I’ve had some really sound legal advice which I’m going with. TA are investigating and MN said no need to take the post down. I will keep you posted of any developments.

OP posts:
Someonesayroadtrip · 23/09/2020 09:05

Wow! He just keeps digging a deeper and deeper hole for himself doesn't he?

The biggest negative thing about his hotel is his attitude. Some very strange ideas and opinions which do is business far more harm. I'd say negative reviews help me think that others are genuine and it was a blip but arguing back makes me think that they are bullies who can't take any critique.

Hope you're ok OP. Must be stressful having to deal with bullies. Keep strong.

SistineScreamer · 23/09/2020 11:54

I can't believe the audacity this arsehole has! OP, I hope you don't back down to bullies because that's exactly what this is. The fact that one of the 'terms' stated were that you weren't allowed to share your opinion (factual or otherwise) speaks volumes about what this dickhead's mind frame is like.

It's not your fault his hotel is shit. If he's read this thread surely the fact that an overwhelming majority agree with says about how wrong he actually is? Though I’ve heard you can't argue with stupid - perhaps that's too kind a word for this twat. 😐

MiddleClassProblem · 23/09/2020 16:56

Omg! Have you seen the reply to your review?

MiddleClassProblem · 23/09/2020 17:03

I’m sure it breaches GDPR

Poorpigletsrevenge · 23/09/2020 17:22

The owner response is amazing! Wow!!